‘Not feeling like a caged animal:’ prisoner perceptions of a remote video visitation system

ABSTRACT

In recent years, correctional agencies have increased their use of video visitation in an effort to offset costs and increase security, among other objectives. In the present study, interviews (N = 12) and surveys (N = 58) were conducted with prisoners at a jail in the Northwestern U.S. that had replaced in-person, glass partition visitation with remote video visitation. The results suggested that while there were positive aspects of video visitation, such as the ability to visit with loved ones from afar, there were criticisms as well, including technological and access issues. The policy implications of the findings and directions for future research on video visitation are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Video visitation
• visitation
• prisoners

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Danielle J. Murdoch

Danielle J. Murdoch, Ph.D. is a Lecturer in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University where she teaches courses in corrections and women and justice. Her research focuses on correctional policy and practice and pedagogy.

Laura L. King

Laura L. King, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Boise State University where she teaches courses in research methods, statistics, and victimology. Her research focuses on sexual violence, victimology, gender and crime, survey methodology, and quantitative analysis.