{"id":17275,"date":"2020-06-27T02:50:50","date_gmt":"2020-06-27T06:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=17275"},"modified":"2020-06-27T02:50:50","modified_gmt":"2020-06-27T06:50:50","slug":"coronavirus-zoom-calls-reunite-prisoners-with-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2020\/06\/27\/coronavirus-zoom-calls-reunite-prisoners-with-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: Zoom calls reunite prisoners with families"},"content":{"rendered":"

New video calls at Maghaberry Prison are allowing inmates to connect with a wider circle of friends and family outside than ever before.<\/p>\n

Face-to-face visits at UK prisons have been suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

But Northern Ireland’s maximum security jail has become one of the first in the UK to allow inmates to make Zoom calls to people all over the world.<\/p>\n

For some prisoners, it has meant seeing family for the first time in years.<\/p>\n

“We have quite a number of foreign national prisoners who’ve been here for a lengthy period of time, and have never seen their loved ones,” said prison governor David Kennedy.<\/p>\n

“Other prisoners haven’t seen their homes, their pets or elderly relatives for a long time, it’s been really beneficial to them.”<\/p>\n

‘Successful beyond expectations’<\/h2>\n

Before the pandemic only face-to-face visits were permitted.<\/p>\n

“In 32 years, I don’t remember visits ever being suspended for anything more than a day or two, due to weather,” Mr Kennedy said.<\/p>\n

“So we knew that stepping away from family contact could have a big impact on the prisoners in our care.<\/p>\n

“It took us three weeks to get the virtual visits up to speed, but they have now been successful beyond our expectations.”<\/p>\n

BBC News was given special access at HMP Maghaberry to sit-in on a virtual visit with a prisoner – we’ve changed his name to Darren.<\/p>\n

As we approach the computer terminal, Darren’s family appear on screen and there is immediate laughter.<\/p>\n

He has shaved his head since their last call and they are seeing the new look for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"Virtual<\/span>
Contact with family is considered important for the mental wellbeing of prisoners<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

As his family peered in from their living room, a young child giggled and said: “He changed his hair!”<\/p>\n

“It’s good to get to see your home surroundings,” said Darren.<\/p>\n

“I’ve had Zoom calls with various groups of friends, my partner and my grandparents too. It’s a lift.”<\/p>\n