By C1 Staff
MIAMI, Fla. — A new study is shedding light on inmate visitation and its effects on rehabilitation.
The Smithsonian reports that Florida inmates, on average, receive only two visits from friends or family during the entire length of their stay, according to the study published in Crime and Delinquency journal.
Those who are older, black or have been behind bars numerous times had the fewest visits, while those who are white, Latino, young or newly incarcerated enjoyed the most.
Economic standing and the length of a prisoner’s sentence did not factor into the likelihood of receiving visitors.
Inmates who receive frequent visits from loved ones do better both during their stay behind bars and after their release.
Experts are unsure how to go about boosting visitation rights. Reasons why friends and family don’t visit range from distance to the prison to visitor’s inability to take off from work.
The Society Page suggests some improvements to the system, including “housing inmates closer to homes, making facilities and visiting hours more child-friendly, and reaching out to prisoner’s families regarding the importance of visitation, both before and during incarceration.”