We talk this hour about the case of Bonnie Foreshaw, serving the longest sentence of any Connecticut woman for the death of a pregnant woman. Her case is back in the news because of new revelations and high profile support.
But first, more than 1,100 women are scheduled for transfer from the Danbury Correctional Facility to a brand-new federal prison in Aliceville, Alabama, a destination that’s far away from the Northeast, even from any major population center in that state. There is no nearby airport for visitors, no nearby medical center for the ill, few lawyers for legal advice, or much else.
Research shows that inmates who receive regular visits are less likely to have discipline problems while in prison, and less recidivism when they leave. And, the National Women’s Law Center says that over 50% of female inmates have children under 18 that would benefit from visits. So, why are we eliminating the only female prison in the Northeast when many of these mostly non-violent inmates have family nearby?
That’s a question being asked by Senator Chris Murphy and a group of high-profile Senators from the Northeast who sent a letter to the Board of Prisons.
http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Betsy/Where%20We%20Live%2008-05-2013.mp3