Fairness for Prisoners' Families
Families & Friends Flock to Hardwick!
April 20, 2007
Georgia Dept. of Corrections Family Meeting~ 9 am
Fairness for Prisoners’ Families meeting~ noon
click here for directions
click here to take the Family Member SurveyFamily members and friends of people in prisons across Georgia will have an opportunity to meet with the Commissioner, Wardens, and other staff of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) on Friday April 20, 2007 in Hardwick (near Milledgeville). These meetings are an exceptional and important opportunity for family members, as it is rare that the GDC be available to address problems in person with family members.
This meeting will start at 9 am with remarks from Commissioner James Donald. They have yet to replace Ms. Cadena, the former Ombudsman for family and friends with concerns about the GDC. You may still reach the Ombudsman's office at 404-657-7588.
Following this, the wardens from each Georgia prison will be available to meet one-on-one with friends and family members and directly address the problems you may be having at your loved one’s facility. This is a good opportunity to talk to the Georgia Department of Corrections and have them listen, one on one.
“The only way to make real changes in the prisons is for the family members to unify and take this opportunity to speak out and advocate for ourselves and for our loved ones behind prison walls,.” notes Emma Simpson, a member of Fairness to Prisoners Families.
After attending the GDC Family Meeting, families and friends are invited to the Fairness for Prisoners’ Families Drop-In Center at St. Stephens’s Episcopal Church in Milledgeville. At the Drop-In Center there will be a family meeting, light refreshments, and opportunities to meet with other family members from across the state.
September 9th will be the most recent in a series of Family Meetings held in Hardwick, Georgia at the Central Region offices. These meetings began because of testimony given by prisoners’ families before the Georgia House Corrections Subcommittee. These courageous folks vividly described the wretched treatment they continually receive at the hands of the GDC. The legislators on the committee were horrified, and demanded that the GDC address and remedy the situation. In response, the GDC scheduled the first Family Meetings to give prisoners’ families a chance to talk directly with wardens and other GDC administrators about their grievances, and to have their questions answered. The meetings were to be held quarterly, however, Commissioner Donald has changed this to annually.
Families face countless obstacles in their attempts to nourish their relationships across prison walls, and frequently find the GDC unresponsive to their concerns.
The GDC’s stated mission is to insure the security of its prisons for both staff and inmates, and to reduce recidivism. The loved ones of Georgia’s incarcerated citizens are fundamental in fulfilling this mission. Family and friends hold their imprisoned loved ones accountable for their behavior while incarcerated, encouraging them to serve their time peacefully and in accordance with prison rules. In addition, support from loved ones motivates those in prison to use the tools for self-improvement offered by the GDC. Most importantly, family and friends play a vital role in a person’s successful re-integration into society upon release.
Nevertheless, in its effort to maintain security in its facilities and to answer a perceived popular desire for a “tough on criminals” correctional atmosphere, the GDC has put into place standard operating procedures and other polices that inadvertently erect barriers between people in prison and the families and friends supporting them. As a result, the attempts of families to nourish relationships with loved ones across prison walls are defeated by dense institutional obstacles.
“Politicians have long repeated the mantra that there is no constituency for prison reform.” states Althea Francois, program coordinator of Fairness for Prisoners’ Families, “However, the fact that there are over 600,000 people on inmate visitation lists clearly speaks to the contrary, particularly because these 600,000 represent only a fraction of supportive loved ones impacted by GDC policies.”
“Our growing group sees the often hidden truths about our society’s tendency toward over-incarceration, such as the sanctioned exploitation of those in prison for private profits.” Francois continues. “This exploitation, be it in the form of private prisons or inflated tolls for collect phone calls, will be challenged by these empowered citizens.”
Click here for Directions to these meetings
For more information, please contact Fairness at 404/681-5576 or email fairness@gejustice.org