Bill Overview
Title: Dignity Act
Description: This bill provides for visitation between federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents and their family members, in accordance with specified procedures.
Sponsors: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Target Audience
Population: Federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents
Estimated Size: 30000
- The legislation pertains to federal prisoners specifically, not state or local prisoners.
- The legislation particularly impacts those who are primary caretaker parents, limiting the group within the broader category of federal prisoners.
- It affects family members of these primary caretaker prisoners since they will engage in the visitation processes.
- The global impact includes all federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents, regardless of country.
Reasoning
- The given policy will primarily affect federal prisoners who are primary caretaker parents and their families.
- Considering the scope and budget, it won't affect a majority of U.S. citizens directly as they are not part of the federal prison system.
- The policy has a particular focus on maintaining family relationships, which may have long-term positive impacts on both prisoners and their children.
- Given the budget constraints, immediate and significant policy shifts are unlikely across all intended populations, but incremental benefits are possible.
- Direct beneficiaries will likely experience a notable change in quality of life associated with enhanced family connections.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Maintaining a bond with their father will be crucial for my kids' emotional development.
- This bill would ease the emotional pressure on our entire family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Warehouse Worker (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's vital for my brother to stay connected to family.
- This policy could make interactions more regular and personal.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Unemployed (New York)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Regular visits would boost my morale and provide much-needed family bonding.
- The bill seems like a way to build stronger relationships despite the circumstances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Retired (Florida)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could provide my daughter more support and hope during her sentence.
- Family is important, and reconnecting could help her rehabilitation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Federal Prisoner (Illinois)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having the opportunity to see my kids more regularly is invaluable.
- It would make my time here more bearable knowing I can maintain my role as a parent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Social Worker (Ohio)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these could lead to better outcomes for kids of incarcerated parents.
- It's important to support family unity for rehabilitation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Federal Employee (Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The visitation can have a positive impact on moral and mental health of inmates.
- I see this as a small but significant step towards a more humane justice system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Artist (Nevada)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More visitation would decrease isolation for both my partner and me.
- Helps make our relationship feel more real, even in difficult times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Corporate Manager (Arizona)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Visiting my cousin more often would help maintain our family ties.
- It feels like a reasonable policy underneath the right budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
University Student (Minnesota)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing visitation rights could improve rehabilitation outcomes.
- Creates a better balance between punishment and rehabilitation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $5500000 (Low: $3200000, High: $8500000)
Year 3: $6000000 (Low: $3500000, High: $9000000)
Year 5: $7000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $4500000, High: $11000000)
Year 100: $20000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- The actual increase in visitor numbers and frequency could vary based on ease of transport and willingness of families to visit, affecting costs.
- Legal and procedural adherence regarding visitor backgrounds could impact operational and administrative costs.
- The impact might vary depending on the ability of prisons to incrementally increase staffing and infrastructure without significant disruptions.
- Long-term potential benefits include improved familial bonds, although not directly quantifiable, could affect recidivism positively.