Maintaining the Bonds

A father stands at a back door watching as his young son scrambles over a play structure in the middle of a small, treeless yard. The boy has just finished breakfast with both his parents, and like children everywhere, he has energy to burn. It is a special occasion for the boy. He has not had a chance to spend an entire weekend with both his parents for a long time and his excitement shows in a joyful smile.

The grassy yard is edged with wire fencing. As the father smiles back at his happy son, he can see past the small yard and over the flat compound beyond to larger and higher fences that mark the perimeter of the property.

The man is an inmate serving a sentence at a federal penitentiary. He is having a private family visit (PFV) with his wife and son at a special unit within the confines of an institution administered by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

Across the Country

Private family visits take place every day in virtually all CSC institutions across the country. They were established to help nurture and maintain the positive bonds between an offender’s family and the community. Such visits also aid the offender’s steps toward rehabilitation.

“Under the law, inmates have the right to community contact,” says Sylvie Carrier, Project Officer, Education and Personal Development Programs, Reintegration Programs at CSC’s National Headquarters. “PFVs are a way to pursue positive family contacts and they play a role in successful reintegration. For example, if an inmate is involved in one of the Living Skills programs, a PFV provides him with the opportunity to put into practice the various skills he learns in these programs.”

“While on a PFV, inmates are in a home environment. It keeps them involved with what’s going on in their family, allows a sense of belonging and allows them to play their role as parent and partner.”

A Privilege, Not a Right

Each institution has two to four PFV units and a correctional officer who oversees inmates’ use of these units. Most are simple two-bedroom structures with a combination kitchen and living area. Some are built exclusively for the purpose while others are basically trailer homes. The units are in high demand and fully booked months in advance. Once approved for a PFV, an inmate and his guest(s) can spend up to 72 hours together.

“Approval is not automatic,” says Sylvie Carrier, pointing out that the criteria for PFVs are more stringent than for general visits. “Immediate family members—spouse or common-law partner, children, parents, foster parents, siblings or grandparents—are eligible. It is not enough to be just a friend.”

Other persons may be allowed if, in the opinion of the institution’s warden, there is a close familial bond. Carrier points out that such a bond is normally expressed through regular correspondence and visits between the inmate and the prospective visitor. Other inmates are not permitted to attend a fellow inmate’s PFV.

Community Assessments of All Prospective Visitors

When a PFV is requested, the inmate’s history is examined and an assessment is made of any prospective visitor.

 “A parole officer from the community interviews that person and makes a recommendation,” says Mrs. Carrier. “There are different things to consider, issues such as the risk of family violence. In any circumstances, if we conclude that the visitor may be in danger, we can refuse or stop the PFV at any time.”

Visitors Carefully Screened Before Entering an Institution

Before arriving for a PFV, visitors are told what items constitute contraband or unauthorized item. As with all others entering the institutions, PFV visitors are searched thoroughly. Attempts to smuggle in contraband may result in the inmate losing PFV privileges and possible criminal charges against the visitor.

Visitors are not allowed to bring food into the institution. Instead, the inmate is provided with an approved list of food and the amount of food ordered is subject to the approval of the institutional head. “The inmate pays for his visitors’ food himself,” says Carrier.

Regular Inspections

To ensure visitor and institutional safety while still allowing privacy, regular inspections by correctional officers take place throughout the stay. They will terminate a visit if there is any contravention of the rules or if they perceive any danger to the guests or the inmate or the security of the institution. Cancellation of the visit mid-way through is an extremely rare occurrence.

Each unit is equipped with a telephone. Visitors can call if they feel unsafe or unwell and the PFV will be terminated. After each PFV, visitors and inmate are interviewed separately to ensure that everything went smoothly.

First PFV Units in 1979

While regular visits have long been a feature of corrections in Canada, PFVs are relatively new.

 “Private Family Visits began in 1979,” says Denis Barbe, Acting Director, Education and Reintegration Programs. He says they were originally piloted then at Millhaven Institution and then they were put in place at maximum-security federal institutions across Canada.

 “They began following an evaluation of the difficulties lifers were having when they were finally released after a long period of incarceration,” says Mr. Barbe. “They had lost contact with their families and they had lost the ability to deal with day-to-day life—making meals, doing laundry, all these everyday things.
 
The results were so positive, it was decided to offer PFVs at all security levels. It has given offenders a valuable opportunity to practice life skills and maintain family contacts while incarcerated.

“We wanted to prevent the loss of the inmate’s positive relationships and the loss of their ability to perform everyday activities,” says Mr. Barbe.

The PFV Units seen from the top of KP’s wall. Since being designated a national historical site in 1989, changes or additions to KP are undertaken with great care and attention. Not only are units constructed with safety and security concerns in mind, but they are also built in a style and with materials similar to those used elsewhere in the institution.

Denis Barbe, Acting Director, Reintegration Programs; Sylvie Carrier, Project Officer, Education and Personal Development Programs, Reintegration Programs.

An inmate feeds his son during a PFV at Montée St. Francois Institution (MSFI). Since 1990, MSFI, a minimum-security facility in Quebec, has had PFVs.

Visits and Correspondence Officer Mike Donovan stands inside a PFV Unit at KP.