Head of the human-rights non-governmental organisation Stand Up for Jamaica Carla Gullotta is welcoming news of the resumption of non-contact visits in adult institutions.
In 2020, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) halted visits to correctional institutions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the prisons.
However last week, the DCS announced a resumption of visits following the withdrawal of the Disaster Risk Management Act on Friday, March 18.
Executive Director of Standup Jamaica Carla Gullota says the resumption of no contact visits will remove one of the burdens associated with being locked up.
“It has been basically two years of total loneliness. To restart the visit is welcomed but everybody especially by the inmates. Especially for children not to see their children for such a long time, if people who are incarcerated to keep some family time - it would be very difficult for them, once their time has ended, to go back to their families and communities.”
The resumption takes effect tomorrow, March 28.
Earlier this month, the DCS also resumed visits at juvenile facilities.
Meanwhile, Ms. Gullota says she understands the rationale undertaken by the Correctional Serviced Department in offering no-contact visits only.
“Because COVID is still around and a place like correctional institutions is not a place whee you can expect too much rules and regulations like social distancing. Because we have had some outbreaks in prisons ….nobody wants someone from outside to bring the virus inside and no one wants the people inside to bring it to their families. I hope it won’t last long and I know that this is just a step forward. What I’m looking at - especially for those who have children, is for them to have the opportunity to see and talk to their families,” she said.
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