Rep. Mary Helen Roberts says policy helps both inmates and children
OLYMPIA – The House of Representatives this week unanimously passed a measure to ensure inmates trying to maintain relationships with their children are prevented from being transferred out-of-state.
“One of the hardest struggles for a child with an incarcerated parent is maintaining that parent-child bond and coping with the feelings of anger and abandonment that often arise,” says Rep. Mary Helen Roberts (D-Edmonds) who sponsored the bill. “This is about keeping families together and helping those families break the cycle of incarceration that too frequently passes from generation to generation.”
Roberts points to numerous studies that show an overwhelming benefit to keeping incarcerated parents close to their children. Reduced offender infractions, lower recidivism rates and improved school performance are several of the benefits frequently associated with maintained family contact.
House Bill 1019 requires the state Department of Corrections to provide a 14-day notice to any inmate facing transfer to an out-of-state facility. Inmates not posing a safety threat who regularly participate in family visitation or parent-teacher conferences can submit a written request to stay in-state. Roberts says DOC already does an excellent job trying to keep inmates close to family and the bill largely reflects the process already in place.
“Our state corrections officials have done a commendable job encouraging families to stay together,” says Roberts. “If the state again finds it necessary to send prisoners out of state, this bill will protect those parent-child relationships.”
The House approved a similar measure last year but it failed to pass the Senate. Roberts hopes to finally see the bill delivered to the Governor this year.
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