Friday, September 18, 2020

Woman Shares Powerful Twitter Thread On Prison Visit Struggles


Liliana Segura's moving Twitter thread shines light on the struggles experienced by folks that try to set up prison visits to see loved ones. It's a bit of a nightmare, to say the least. 

1.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura Yesterday I accompanied a woman to see her loved one in prison. We left before dawn to make it for the AM visit. Several hours later, we were headed back home, our visit denied. I wanted to share a bit about the experience. 1/

2.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 Replying to @LilianaSegura As with all prisons, visits are limited to certain days. Our past 2 attempts had been canceled at the last minute after her loved one was thrown in the hole. He has serious health issues and they were really anxious for this visit. 2/

3.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 The drive was long, but smooth. We stopped to get quarters along the way, for the vending machines. Some prisons don't allow money inside, so I thought maybe this facility was more relaxed than others I've been to. I was wrong. 3/ 3 27 262 3.9K Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 The first thing we saw upon arriving was an older woman walking back to her car, carrying her visitation form. She looked defeated. She stopped us and warned that we shou

4.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 The woman told us she had asked the guards at security if she could just go back to her car and leave her extra keys, then come back. Nope. Not only did they refuse to allow her in, she was banned from visitation for 30 days. 5/ 14 27 494 5K Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 We were stunned-but she seemed more resigned than surprised. She told us to make sure we had no more than $20 in quarters. Also, no earrings, she reminded us-and no necklace

5.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 We went back to the car, took the extra keys off the keychain, and headed inside. Went through security. As I was about to be patted down, the guard smirked and pointed out my (very small) nose ring. "No jewelry." 7/ 2 27 280 3.8K

6.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 We went back to the car, took the extra keys off the keychain, and headed inside. Went through security. As I was about to be patted down, the guard smirked and pointed out my (very small) nose ring. "No jewelry." 7/ 2 27 280 3.8K Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura Nov 17 My heart sank. This hadn't occurred to me. It's never been an issue before. I was worried l'd be turned away, or worse, that we would both be denied and it'd be my fault. I was offering

7.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 As she heard this, the woman I came with started shaking, trying to maintain her composure. She repeatedly told the guards that she wasn't mad at them, but pleaded to talk to someone. She was in tears but clearly anxious not to escalate in a way that would lead to reprisals. 10/ 3 27 293 4.5K Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 A sergeant came over, checked the computer, said it was not clear why the man's status changed but he could not allow us

8.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 I've been to a bunch of prisons in a bunch of states. The rules are always changing, always arbitrary. What is consistent is the casual cruelty; the indifference; the way some seem to relish denying visits for any reason they can. 13/ 33 27 2K 11K Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 I have been thinking about the woman who was turned away because of her keys, and the fact that she must now go a month before seeing her own loved one. For what? Ther

9.

Text - Liliana Segura @LilianaSegura · Nov 17 Boarding a flight so l'll leave it here but: It's moments like these when I feel most overwhelmed by mass incarceration. This was 1 day, in 1 prison, in 1 state in this country. We have built a vast machinery of cruelty and called it justice-and we're all diminished by it. 16/16 337 27 3.2K 22.5K

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