The whole concept of imprisonment is that people are being punished for doing wrong. If one is given 3 square meals a day, have exercise time, see her/his family and friends, have sex with the wife on a regular basis, and are in general treated better than homeless U. S. citizens that have never committed a crime. Then what’s the point? In theory Conjugal and Familial Visitations Effective Rehabilitative Concepts, however what about children that are created at these visits and are forced to be born with one parent behind bars.
Also it is not a fair system in reality as most states don’t offer it anyways and those who do leave most inmates ineligible. According to calderon, Federal prisons do not allow it at all, the thought of inmates enjoying themselves while serving a punitive prison sentence is largely unacceptable to innocent, American citizens who fall prey to criminal acts. If it is done right, the concept can enhance the maintenance of strong family ties. This would go a long way toward preventing inmate recidivism therefore strengthening rehabilitative concepts.
The operation of a visitation program is an integral element of any prison system. Hundreds of thousands of relatives and loved ones visit inmates in prison each year. Many view visitation as improving the prison environment. This is why all institutions encourage visitations. Visitations give inmates something to look forward to. Visitors give inmates an incentive to participate in rehabilitative programs, and a mechanism with which to cope with prison life. This case is true as well for conjugal visits.
There are several reasons that conjugal visitation should be encouraged in the prison setting. The prisoner who has maintained contact with supportive individuals has a “safety net” when he or she returns to the community. Family provides a feeling of belonging to a group. They often help released offenders seek and find employment and conduct themselves in a positive, constructive manner after release. Conjugal visits give inmates the opportunity to keep the family unit together.
By doing so, inmates are more likely to have lower recidivism rates and are easier to manage while serving their sentences. Regular contact with visitors significantly enhances an inmate’s quality of life and establishes a lifeline between the inmate and the free community. Ties with family members and other loved ones are critical to inmates’ successful return to the community, and visiting helps maintain these relationships. (Calderon, 2006)