As a woman married to an incarcerated individual, I know the deep pain and trauma caused by the inability to visit my loved one. The current legislation in West Virginia deprives felons the right to visit their incarcerated partners, including myself. This merciless policy is shattering, as it's every person's right to maintain contact with their loved ones!

No one is saying we are incapable of wrong. Yes, I am a felon. But does my past mistake warrant a stripped visitation right, stripping me off a fundamental human connection? Everyone deserves redemption.

With almost 7,000 individuals incarcerated in West Virginia state prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, thousands of families find themselves trapped under this cruel policy, torn away from their partners. A Drexel University study suggests that prison visitations can reduce recidivism. This denies not just emotional solace, but also jeopardizes the prospects of better reintegration for the incarcerated.

We call on the West Virginia Prison Authority to re-evaluate this policy. Let's bring humanity back to our criminal justice system. We are more than our past mistakes, and every person deserves the chance to prove that. Please sign this petition and support the right of spouses with a felony to visit their incarcerated loved ones in West Virginia prisons.