Family visits are essential. They're not only a significant means of maintaining connections and promoting rehabilitation among inmates, but they also serve as a beacon of hope, reflecting a life beyond prison walls. However, at Wasco State Prison, this fundamental right is being compromised.

The prison has utilized two family units to serve other purposes — storage and dialysis — dramatically reducing the frequency of family visits to a single meeting every six months. This scenario contrasts starkly with other prisons, where visits take place every 45-to-90 days, thanks to multiple units being available.

Wasco's policy, unfortunately, contradicts the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (CDCR) stance, which stipulates that inmates are permitted four visits a year. Yet, the realignment of family units for other purposes at Wasco impedes this mandate.

The impact of these irregular visits on families is immeasurable. It's time to prioritize family connections and inmate rehabilitation over storage and other uses. We urge authorities to consider reopening the closed units at Wasco for family visits, thereby aligning with the CDCR's guidelines and promoting a healthier, more holistic prison system.

It's time for change. It's time to reopen the family units at Wasco State Prison for regular family visits. Kindly sign the petition and push for this crucial revision in our prison system. Please help us push CDCR to give us what was built for our families.