Minnesota Correctional Facility - St. Cloud

As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on December 23, 2011.

By age 23, nearly one-third of Americans have been arrested for an offense more serious than a traffic violation, the New York Times reported recently.

With so many involved with the criminal justice system, the Bennewitz family of New Hope won’t be alone as they celebrate Christmas with an empty seat at their table. The chair belongs to their son Andrew, who will have Christmas dinner with other men whose paths led them to St. Cloud.

Although correctional facilities do not permit visitors on holidays, a November 2011 report by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, “The Effects of Prison Visitation on Offender Recidivism” (doc.state.mn.us/publications), touted the value of visitors to offenders. It concluded inmates with established support systems are less likely to be convicted of a felony upon their release.

That’s good news for taxpayers. According to the DOC, it costs the state an average of $9,000 when a releasee returns to prison.

The DOC observed, “Because many offenders have burned bridges with loved ones by the time they reach prison, facilitating visits from friends and family may not be an option.”

Yet it concluded, “Given the public safety benefits that appear to be associated with prison visitation, it is reasonable to suggest that correctional systems should make efforts to promote greater visitation while still, at the same time, ensuring that these efforts do not compromise the safety and security of correctional staff, inmates, and visitors.”

The Bennewitz family understands; they regularly visit the young man whose life took a shocking turn. Andrew was a stellar student who didn’t use alcohol or drugs. At age 17, he shattered plans to attend college, when, with premeditation, he shot and wounded the stepfather he contended had verbally and psychologically abused him and his younger brother for eight years. Andrew was sentenced to 15 years; he’ll serve 10 in prison, the balance on probation.

“Andrew is truly guilty of the crime he committed … but that doesn’t mean we don’t support him as a person and want him to use this experience as a jumping off to a better life,” said his stepmother, Pamela Muldoon.

“We’re not ashamed that we have a family member in prison,” she said. “People blur the two — that when you support someone you agree with what they did. They are two distinct thoughts and actions. I’ve had people tell me to my face they are shocked that I’m not ashamed.”

Noting few talk openly about having a family member in prison, Muldoon shares their story to encourage others to support incarcerated family members.

“They are still part of our society; they are still human and need human interaction and support,” she said.

The DOC study acknowledges visiting is no simple feat. Visitors must take initiative to learn a system that does not tolerate ignorance or error. Very specific statewide visiting room regulations are posted on the Minnesota Department of Corrections website (doc.state.mn.us). Visitors must complete paperwork before being added to the approved list and follow directives about proper apparel, contact and more.

The Bennewitz family did their homework; however, not everyone has the wherewithal to do so, or access to the Internet.

Now 22, Andrew is reflective about his experience. To glean the insider’s perspective, I asked him about the value of visitors and what he would want readers to know about prison life. Part of his response follows.

“Visits can be a huge morale boost for inmates, or they can destroy his week. The worst feeling in the world is helplessness and unknowing visitors can invoke those feelings in their sons, husbands, boyfriends, etc. … It sucks not being able to help loved ones. At 25 cents an hour, we can’t even support a family member financially. Stress like that just makes time go by slower.”

He continued, “We don’t need our people to advocate what we’ve done, but we do need to be accepted. If our family cannot accept us, how will society?”

He wrote, “I want people to know that people here are not evil or monsters, most just screwed up or got screwed over. You may feel safer by locking up ‘the bad guys,’ but the truth is that most of us will be back on the streets, and the public reaction to us will influence what we do.

“I made plans for my real life before I was arrested,” Andrew wrote, “so I make plans for my incarcerated life now … I still have short-term and long-term goals. I just take baby steps to get there” (including take courses from St. Cloud State).

Looking ahead to the realities of life beyond a concrete cell with a metal cot and a single blanket, he asks, “If our communities reject us – and nobody hires us – how will we support ourselves?”