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 visitor approved where there is a legitimate security or penological interest or concern. Christensen however, has directed that all policy exceptions for potential visitors be closely scrutinized, "especially visitors who possess a record of criminal charges regardless of the final adjudication." This language implies that persons who may have been arrested, yet never convicted of ANY charge may now be denied permission to visit a prisoner at the ISCC based simply on that arrest - a textbook case of denial of due process. It also means that prisoners at other IDOC facilities may have a visitor approved that would be denied visiting approval at the ISCC.
So much for the old saying, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."
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 visitor approved where there is a legitimate security or penological interest or concern. Christensen however, has directed that all policy exceptions for potential visitors be closely scrutinized, "especially visitors who possess a record of criminal charges regardless of the final adjudication." This language implies that persons who may have been arrested, yet never convicted of ANY charge may now be denied permission to visit a prisoner at the ISCC based simply on that arrest - a textbook case of denial of due process. It also means that prisoners at other IDOC facilities may have a visitor approved that would be denied visiting approval at the ISCC.
So much for the old saying, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."