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Maryland Prison Visits Suspended TFN

March 12th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

In order to protect our employees, inmates, and detainees and their families, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is suspending all visits to its correctional facilities effective today, March 12.

The Department will provide free phone calls and video visitation for inmates.

"We recognize the tremendous importance of visits and family contact," said Secretary Robert L. Green. "But it is critical for the health and well-being of our employees and those in our custody that we protect them. This is a human event, and we need to do everything possible to ensure that families can communicate." 

DPSCS internet technology and custody staff are working now on telephone and video visiting enhancements.

All programming and volunteer activities will be suspended for two weeks, at which time, we will re-evaluate. 

DPSCS will continue to re-evaluate the situation in an effort to restore normal visits as soon as possible.  

There have been no cases of coronavirus in our correctional facilities.  DPSCS continues to work closely with the MD Dept. of Health and the MD Emergency Management Agency, and will be closely monitoring its employees and those in our custody for signs of illness.  The Department remains focused on educating staff, inmates, and detainees on proper procedures for limiting the spread of all communicable diseases.  

4 Responses to “Maryland Prison Visits Suspended TFN”

  1. March 12, 2020 at 8:42 pm, Bob said:

    We will likely see a million or more prisoners released shortly after some judge declares it to be cruel and unusual punishment to keep folks confined together during this pandemic. It won’t make much difference in some parts of Cumberland but it will in some civilized places.

    Reply

    • March 12, 2020 at 11:21 pm, Babbs said:

      > Well Bob, first off, I believe this is a lot of political hype to scare people and to bash Trump. However, I understand the concern for the safety and well being of the elderly, our school systems, the medically vulnerable, the medical, and prison systems. Just imagine the impact this virus could have, if it would end up in just our prison system in Cumberland. I would guess that there are 2500 to 3000, inmates between WCI and NBCI, alone. If we could do the math, how many thousand people do you think would be affected locally? It’s no surprise that Maryland’s prisons are already understaffed, to begin with. It’s been all over the news for quite some time now. This virus would affect officers, inmates, medical staff, visitors, lawyers, social workers, psychologists, vendors,government officials, their families, and ultimately the public. In this case, extra precaution is necessary.

      Reply

  2. March 13, 2020 at 6:13 am, Steve said:

    These folks are in Prison, not on vacation.
    TOO BAD for them, tough it out like the victim’s of their crimes had to do. They should not have committed crimes!

    Reply

  3. March 13, 2020 at 10:20 am, John T Hare said:

    People relax! They have video visitation capabilities at the prison. Just not allowing outsiders to come in the prison. Not a big deal.

    Reply

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