Daily Life & Experience in Prison
What's Going On Inside Iowa's Prisons
Understanding the significance of staying informed about changes in prison policy and procedure is pivotal to navigating the complex environment of correctional facilities. We are dedicated to ensuring that families and friends are kept in the loop, fully aware of how these modifications may impact their interactions and connections with their loved ones behind bars.
How We Can Help
We at IJAN have great interest in keeping ourselves informed about the way our prison systems operate here in Iowa. Policies and procedures change more frequently than you may expect. We have learned over the years that most of the time, it is only those citizens who have loved ones incarcerated that are aware of the day-to-day operations inside the prison walls.
Because we believe you, the public, need not only know how your tax dollars are being spent, but more importantly, how incarcerated people and their loved ones in our justice system are being treated, we have decided to develop this page and keep it updated for your benefit.
If you have any questions, comments or wish to contact IJAN regarding this page, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Current Issues Affecting Those Imprisoned
- Video visits are 25 minutes in length.
- In-person visits have been reduced to 2 hours.
- Visits are limited to two per week, one video and one in person.
- Visitors are now patted down before entering the visiting room.
- To date, there have been no commutations granted by this governor.
- Numerous prisons have eliminated Hobby Lobby and Crafts from their options.
- All the prisons except the women's prison in Mitchellville are currently overcrowded.
- Iowa is the only state in the country that does not have a Compassionate Release law or policy.
- The Board of Parole has a new Chair, Nick Davis, and is being re-organized, based on better structured criteria.
- Snail mail goes through the DOC contract with Pigionely and is taking up to 6 months to be received by inmates.
- There are no longer food or snacks allowed in the visiting room. Only soda and water from the vending machines.
- Classification of prisons is being re-organized and Lifers are being transferred to various prisons regularly. Numerous have been transferred at least twice in the last 6 months.
- The visiting room restrooms are no longer available for use, so a visitor must leave the building and go to an administrative restroom if needed. Then, upon return, must be patted down again.
- Only religious volunteers are being allowed into prisons to offer classes. Therefore opportunities, such as Toastmasters, The Inside Choir, Re-Entry Support Workshops among other are restricted.
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