The primary goal of sentencing someone to prison is to separate them from society as a punishment for their crime. However, being cut off from the outside world can be difficult, and maintaining relationships with friends and family is considered an essential part of an inmate’s rehabilitation. Nonetheless, it can be challenging to hear about major life events such as weddings and births that one cannot attend.
Despite this, I was glad to hear that my loved ones were continuing to live their lives and move forward, despite the stress and difficulties caused by my situation. I still feel guilty that my actions had such a negative impact on my family and friends for an extended period. But I digress.
One might assume that inmates would be allowed furloughs to attend significant life events like weddings, right? Well, let’s explore that question further: Is it possible to leave prison for a wedding?
In today’s blog post I will cover the following topics:
- Can an inmate get a furlough for a wedding?
- What is a prison furlough?
- Who remembers Willie Horton?
Can an inmate get a furlough for a wedding?
Unfortunately, the answer to whether a prisoner can leave prison for a wedding is a definite “no”. Wardens or prison administrators do not grant furlough for weddings, as they are not considered family crises, medical emergencies, or education or employment-related reasons.
Prisons cannot function if they allow furloughs for events like weddings. In fact, even compassionate release for dying inmates is difficult to obtain. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a prisoner will be approved to leave prison for a weekend to attend a wedding and enjoy the festivities. While it may be difficult for inmates to hear about major life events happening outside of prison, staying connected with loved ones is still an important part of rehabilitation. However, inmates should not expect to be granted special privileges to attend weddings or other events outside of prison.
What is a prison furlough?
A prison furlough is a temporary release from a correctional facility for a specific reason, such as a medical emergency or to attend a funeral. The furlough can be escorted or unescorted, and the inmate returns to custody once the time is up. The goal of furloughs is to achieve specific correctional goals, such as enhancing community reintegration and reducing recidivism.
However, furloughs are not entitlements or rewards for good behavior, nor are they a means to shorten a criminal sentence. The types of furloughs vary by level of government, with the federal Bureau of Prisons having transfer and non-transfer furloughs, emergency and routine furloughs, and day or overnight furloughs.
Despite these options, furloughs are rarely granted. The Bureau of Prisons and state facilities have strict rules, and furloughs are typically only granted for urgent and necessary reasons. Weddings do not fall under the category of urgent or necessary reasons and are not considered for furlough approval.
While staying in touch with loved ones is an essential part of rehabilitation, hearing about major life events while behind bars can be challenging. Prisoners understand that their sentence includes segregation from society and missing out on events like weddings. Furloughs are a privilege granted only in extraordinary circumstances and are not expected to cover every significant life event.
Who remembers Willie Horton?
In 1988, during the presidential election where George H.W. Bush was running against Michael Dukakis, prison furloughs became a topic of debate thanks to the infamous Bush TV commercial featuring Willie Horton. Horton was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Massachusetts, but as governor, Dukakis approved 10 “weekend passes” for Horton. On one of those furloughs, Horton committed the crimes of kidnapping, stabbing, and rape, which pretty much sank Dukakis’ campaign and turned the public against the idea of furloughs.
According to The Marshall Project, in the mid-to-late 80s, all 50 states had furlough programs. These passes allowed inmates to leave the prison for periods of time ranging from a few hours to several weeks. While in the community, they could visit family, look for work, or participate in religious activities. Almost 10 percent of state and federal prisoners received a furlough in 1987.
A 1988 New York Times article said that furloughs were not controversial because they offered incentives for good behavior and were a way for inmates to reacclimate to life outside of prison. “Use of furloughs for prisoners in the U.S. is widespread, successful, and relatively problem-free,” the editor of a magazine for corrections professionals said at the time.
However, the Willie Horton ad and case changed all of that. It hyped up the pro-death penalty, tough on crime narrative, and turned the public against the idea of furloughs. In a 1989 speech, George H.W. Bush told the nation that we need more jails, more prisons, more courts, and more prosecutors. Then-Senator Joe Biden even bragged that Democrats took an even harder line than Republicans. President Clinton picked up where Bush left off and then took it a step further with his 1994 crime bill, which sponsored by Biden, fueled a prison-building boom, ended Pell grants for prisoners, and decimated prison education programs around the country.
Ever since, the concept of furloughs at the federal and state level have pretty much remained in the rule books instead of being put into practice. The case of Willie Horton and the Bush TV commercial changed public perception about prison furloughs and influenced politics to this day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an inmate leave prison for a wedding?
It depends on the policies of the correctional facility and the specific circumstances of the inmate and the wedding. In general, prison furloughs may be granted for special occasions, such as weddings, but they are not an entitlement and must be approved by the prison administration.
How does an inmate request a furlough for a wedding?
The inmate should first check with the prison staff to see if furloughs for weddings are allowed and what the specific requirements are for requesting one. The inmate will typically need to submit a written request to the warden or other appropriate authority, stating the reason for the furlough and the details of the wedding.
What factors are considered when deciding whether to grant a furlough for a wedding?
The decision to grant a furlough for a wedding is typically based on several factors, such as the inmate’s behavior while in prison, the seriousness of the crime committed, the risk of flight or danger to the public, and the availability of staff to escort or monitor the inmate during the furlough.
What types of furloughs are there for weddings?
Furloughs for weddings can be either escorted or unescorted, and can range in duration from a few hours to several days. The specific type of furlough granted will depend on the policies of the correctional facility and the circumstances of the inmate and the wedding.
Can an inmate leave the state for a wedding furlough?
It depends on the policies of the correctional facility and the specific circumstances of the inmate and the wedding. In general, furloughs for weddings are typically limited to a certain distance from the prison or within the state, but exceptions may be made in certain circumstances.
What happens if an inmate violates the terms of their wedding furlough?
If an inmate violates the terms of their wedding furlough, they may face disciplinary action and have their furlough privileges revoked. They may also be subject to criminal charges and have their sentence extended or reduced.
Conclusion
prison furloughs are authorized absences from correctional facilities, granted for specific reasons and for a limited amount of time. Furloughs can be escorted or unescorted, and the most common reasons for granting a furlough are medical needs, funerals, and job-related activities. The goal of furlough programs is to achieve specific correctional goals, such as reducing recidivism and enhancing community reintegration before release, while also protecting the public from undue risk.
However, the public perception of furloughs changed drastically in 1988 due to the Willie Horton case and a campaign ad that criticized furlough programs. The controversy surrounding furloughs led to a shift in politics towards a pro-death penalty, tough on crime narrative, and resulted in the decrease of furlough programs at the federal and state levels. Despite this, prison furloughs remain a possibility for some inmates, such as those seeking to attend a family member’s wedding, but the process can be difficult and requires careful consideration by prison officials.
