Fighting to stay connected behind bars

This is David's story →

Dear Pamela,   Family visits in prison are a chance for joy and connection for incarcerated people and their loved ones. These are moments that can't be replaced. For those incarcerated in New York State, this lifeline has been disrupted for months.   Last February, a corrections officers' strike put family visits on hold. Without proper staffing, prisons resorted to increased time in lockdown, and many were unable to participate in visitation programming.   Nearly a year later, visits have yet to return to their regular frequency. David Sell and his neighbor both had their family visits canceled after the strike began. You can read David's reflection on the devastating disruption of family visitation here. Visits through the Family Reunion Program at David's facility restarted after seven months. But they are available less often and limited to weekdays, making the program inaccessible for many families who often commute from hours away. Restricting family visitations is one of many ways that prisons and jails make it too difficult for families to stay connected during incarceration. Stories like David's are all too common, but they shouldn't be. We all deserve a justice system rooted in dignity: that starts with an end to tearing families apart.   As many of us come together with our loved ones this holiday season, we hope you will take a moment to consider David's story and that of countless others who have been forced apart by the United States criminal justice system. In solidarity,   Vera Institute of Justice  © 2025 Vera Institute of Justice. All Rights Reserved.   Vera Institute of Justice 34 35th Street | Suite 4-2A | Brooklyn, NY 11232 (212) 334-1300   Privacy Statement | unsubscribe