ISCC WARDEN CLAMPS DOWN ON VISITOR APPROVALS
While the IDOC mantra that family bonds - strengthened through visitation - is one of the pillars of recidivism prevention, ISCC Warden Jay Christensen has ordered that restrictions on approving visitors be increased, despite the fact there is no immediate or short-term plans for video visitation to be introduced at the state's most populous facility. In a January 27, 2020 memorandum, Christensen cites the introduction of drugs as the basis for his decision. "The continuous introduction of drugs, culminating in security threat group activity and contraband," writes Christensen, "demonstrates that a tighter review process be completed for any visitor applications or reviews." While the Christensen certainly has a responsibility to curtail the introduction of drugs into the ISCC, violating the rights of innocent citizens to associate without due process of law is both abhorrent and unlawful. It is well established that inmates have no right to having a specific vi