Hello, my name is Peggy and I am in love with an inmate in the Arkansas Dept Of Corrections. 4 years ago I was an officer and the unit he is incarcerated at, and that is where I met him. We have been together ever since. There is only one problem, and it is definitely a major one. They are still refusing to let me see him after 4 years. Christmas day was 4 years since I have stepped foot on their property. I realize that to begin with I was a security hazard and I understood that for the most part, but things have changed so much around there in the last 4 years that I definitely don't pose a threat.(I didn't before either, but they didn't know that). I guess the reason I am writing this is to find out if anyone here would know if there are avenues I could take and what they may be to be able to see him. I am pretty desperate for advice at this point. I have exhausted the majority of my options from my point. The only thing I haven't done is taken them to court, but I will if I have to. I hope to hear from someone, it would mean alot.

Thanks,
Peggy

Peggy,
Have you at least consulted a lawyer to find out what the laws are and where your rights are?
With every state having their own laws it would be hard to know what to do unless you know Arkansas law.
Have you called your local ACLU?
You're being punished because you used to be one of THEM and now you're one of US.
Call a lawyer...find out where to start...and FIGHT!
Good luck honey....Puppy

Thanks Puppy. I have contacted a lawyer and I was advised to go through the Director first. I am at that point now. But I am afraid it won't do any good. Our attorney said that if the Director didn't do anything that they probably won't do anything in court but that he would try. Our attorney is also his criminal attorney and he is working on a case to try and get him earlier than 11 years. I am keeping my fingers crossed and I am trying to keep my head high, but it is getting hard to look toward the future when it seems so far off right now.
Anyway, thanks again. Just to know that there are people in similar situations and ones that I can talk to make it alot easier. Peggy

Hi Peggy:

My son is in the North Carolina Dept of Corrections and has been for 12 years. About a year ago, he met an employee of the DOC who fell in love with him and he her. The DOC fired her and moved him 250 miles away from his home. She started visiting him and did visit for 8 months. The the Raleigh DOC wrote her a letter telling her that she could not visit any inmate in the North Carolina DOC. She has gone to an attorney, has written to them and filed complaints, has written to senators and congressmen to no avail. It does not look like she will ever get her visitation back. They still remain friends and plan to marry if possible in April. The DOC will probably never allow them to marry while he is in prison. He has a 50 year sentence.

Just like I tell her, keep fighting. At some point, these people have to be stopped. If we don't continue fighting that will never happen.

My best wishes to you
Donna

Peggy:
I can completely relate to your story as I too found the man I love while working within the walls of a prison. I wasn't security, but a contracted treatment program director. I resigned when confronted with suspicions. This all just happened for me recently. I agree that how far you can get will just depend on the system in that state. I did read the Illinois DOC Visitation Policies and there is a clause in there that states that "employees/former employees who have become involved with an inmate may be permenantly banned from visitation if it is determined to be a security risk." Now, I suppose their determination of what is and isn't a security risk can be rather subjective! My significant other is in segregation for 6 months due to suspicion of a relationship. For awhile we were writing to one another (I was sending my mail to him with a friend's return address and not signing my name), but they cut that off several weeks ago, and he started getting shakedown slips indicating to him that both his incoming and outgoing mail was being "retained by internal affairs." I definately agree that you have to fight!! Obviously you should start by being as diplomatic as possible as you know how political the DOC is (no matter what state) and they will hold a grudge and do anything they can to make your life miserable! My honey just got transferred (today I think...) to another prison within the state. I have been lucky to have the support of his sister who has the means to hire an attorney who has been making calls on the state level. I am hoping to be able to begin corresponding with him directly again soon..... but my next goal will definately be visitation!! Keep us posted on how things go, and whenever you want to chat or if you ever think there is a way I could help, by all means let me know!! You will be in my thoughts and I wish you the best. Unfortunately, DOC doesn't have much respect for love, but you have to know that when it is true it will survive any hardship!!!

Same here I worked for Arkansas Department of Corrections for less than a year, fell in love with an inmate, quit my job and left. I visited for 6 months and then was denied because of my past employment. I was a counselor not a CO. Current employees are allowed to visit their family members but not former. That makes no sense to me at all, they have access to computer and hard copies of records, other inmates, I have nothing. Hell most of my former co workers won't even talk to me. My fear is if I fight it it will cause problems for him.

Hello and welcome to PTO!!! :wave:

Hello Peggy, and welcome to PTO, I hope you find all the support you need from this site.
Kesha