This article discusses the “amenities” available to the detainees in a women’s minimum security prison in Indiana. In discussions about amenities available to prisoners, there is always a contrast between those who advocate what they believe to be reasonable privileges for the purpose of facilitating rehabilitation and those who advocate hard time and bare minimum facilities. The warden of this particular facility states, “We definitely want to put a better person back on the streets than we received…it’s a place that preaches reform as much as punishment.”
And perhaps the middle way is the best approach as it seeks to reduce recidivism while acknowledging the reality of the offense that led to incarceration. We believe that communication with family and loved ones while serving one’s time is not an amenity but an important part of the effort to reform. A strong connection with one’s family supports the rehabilitation process. The key is to offer prison telecommunications services in a manner that enhances safety, maintains security and rewards good behavior. We believe the meshDETECT secure prison cell phone solution does exactly that.
As a steady rain fell recently, the conditions outside the Madison Correctional Facility prison (MCI) were best described as gloomy. But inside the minimum security facility in Madison, Indiana, they were a bit more pleasant.
“It’s a good facility if you have to be locked up, but definitely there is nothing fun about being locked up,” said Superintendent Jan Davis.
Davis is described by most of the offenders as tough but fair.
“We definitely want to put a better person back on the streets than we received,” said Davis. And that is what a minimum security facility like Madison can do with just under 500 inmates, it’s a place that preaches reform as much as punishment.
“Every offender here has an assignment, whether it be a work assignment, or a program assignment they have to be at,” said Davis.
One such program is a fully-equipped cosmetology school.
“Then they go to the State Board and take a test, and then we also have some in here who are also doing a nail care program.,” said Davis.
Those are just a few of the classes inmates are offered during their time.
“Most of them (inmates), the average stay is about a year, our violence level is very, very low,” said Davis.
Most offenders are there due to non-violent, lower-level felonies. They include Cindy Melin from Fowler, Indiana. She is serving a forgery sentence until 2014. “It’s not as bad being here as it could be like in a maximum facility,” said Melin. That’s exactly what 9 News found at the facility too.
Inmates do have TV, but “they do not have any special channels, it is just basic cable,” said Davis. Inmates also have a library, pay phones, a softball field, parenting classes, a fitness center and a child friendly visitation center.
“I believe you should still have some freedom and rights in here, and be allowed to do those kind of things,” said Melin.
What they don’t have includes Internet access, conjugal visits, radios and air conditioning. “The small things we took for granted on the outs, is the biggest things we don’t take for granted in here,” said Sasheena Bonner.
The Anderson, Indiana woman is serving a burglary sentence until 2016.
“There are times when you feel down and you miss your family and all, but you have to take it a day at a time,” said Bonner.
As for sleeping conditions, Madison is all dormitory-style housing. “Some rooms will have two to a room, some have six, some are a little larger,” said Davis.
The most surprising creature comfort? Creatures. Dogs and cats living with the offenders. They are part of a successful apprenticeship program at MCI that turns strays into adoptable pets.
“We are not all bad people,” said Melin.
He is also the inventor of the patented meshDETECT, Secure Prison Cell Phone Solutions.
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