Reinstating a free bus visitation program in New York prisons could save money, lessen prison violence, reduce its recidivism rate, and even put a smile on a young child’s face, according to a report by the Vera Institute.
From 1973 until early 2011, the state’s free bus visitation program helped families stay connected, the report says. However, budget restraints ended the program.
The goal of the service is to “preserve, enhance, and strengthen relationships between incarcerated individuals and their family and friends,” the report says. In addition, the program provides “transportation to those who could not otherwise afford to make the expensive and often lengthy trips on their own.”
Incarcerated people who received regular visits from family members are six times less likely to be involved in prison rules violations, according to a study by the Washington State Department of Corrections. Furthermore, the Minnesota Department of Corrections said inmates who receive visits from relatives and clergy are 13 percent less likely to recidivate.
New York prison officials say the reduction in recidivism saves the state (in prison cost) $60,076 annually per person.
The report says that New York’s free visitation buses “promotes public safety and a safer correctional environment, but also the well-being of New York’s children and families.”
“By reinstating the bus program and increasing its usage, New York can make better use of public resources while affirming its commitment to successful prisoner reentry and long-term public safety,” the report concludes.
