The Inside Scoop

The relationships an inmate has with people outside of prison or jail makes a big difference on his or her state of mind and outlook on life. There are those who never had anyone to begin with, which is very sad to think about. I can only imagine the hopelessness they must feel. Without anything to lose you’re more likely to make decisions that lead to even worse predicaments. Then there are those who have burned all their bridges. Some gangs intentionally make you prove that they are more important than your family. Other people are having a hard time with drugs. I know a few people who are trying after many years to fix their relationships, but a lot the times their family or friends feel like they’ve given them too many second chances. Last, but not least, are those who never lost their relationships (or they got them back over time). I believe having friends and family to talk to prevents total institutionalization, which can hinder entry back into civilization. You’re more lik...

Contact with friends and loved ones is very important to inmates. The impact of being locked in a cell all day, or being around convicts all day, can really have an effect on your emotions and attitude. The ability to make phone calls is great, and it makes a huge difference in our day-to-day lives, but they usually only last 15 minutes, which isn’t really enough time to hold a meaningful conversation. Since the pandemic, CDCR has implemented video visits that allow us an hour to talk with an approved visitor face-to-face. These video visits allow for lots of people, who wouldn’t normally be able to get a visit, to see the people they care about. If our loved ones are ill or live very far away, it could be very difficult to make the journey. There are laws that state they can’t provide video visits instead of contact ones unless there is a pandemic or some other reason, so we usually don’t have that option available to us. Some people are working to keep them going in a limited capac...