Connected or Cut Off?: An Examination of Pennsylvania Prison Visitation Experiences Since COVID-19

• In Event: Teaching and Visitation in Jails and Prisons

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in correctional facilities across the country suspending all in-person visits, and in many states, shifting exclusively to virtual visitation for a period of time. While in-person visits have since resumed, many of the policy restrictions implemented in response to the pandemic have remained in place. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative data collected from surveys distributed to all PA state prisons (n=220), this study examines the experiences and perceptions of those who have and have not received visits in Pennsylvania state correctional facilities in the years following the pandemic-related correctional policy changes. We seek to better understand the incarcerated population’s use of and satisfaction with both virtual and in-person visitation methods and how these visitation options impact their ability to maintain contact with the outside and preserve their social bonds with loved ones, as well as the potential role that the digital divide, or unequal access to digital technology, may play in perpetuating inequitable access to visits. Findings will hold important policy implications that can improve the visitation experience and address the barriers preventing more widespread usage of virtual and in-person visits.

Author

• Veronica Nelson, Temple University