New Marin jail program aims to reconnect inmates with families
The sheriff's office created a more welcoming visiting space that might ease inmates' transition to home life and reduce recidivism.
Deja Munson waited in a room furnished with a large soft rug, couches, Disney posters, children’s books and an array of toys.
Several Marin County Jail staff members stood outside as her two young sons greeted her. Munson, dressed in her jail uniform, sat on the floor and spent more than an hour playing, sharing candy and reading books with them.
Munson’s visit with her children this month was the first meeting under the jail’s new family reunification program. The program aims to reconnect inmates with their families and reduce the likelihood they will reoffend.
Munson’s mother, Sumatra McGilbery, brought the children and joined them in the room, which differs from the jail’s standard visitation rooms that have visitors and inmates separated by a window and speaking via telephone.
“She’s been away from them and now she gets to see them and how much time is passing by and how they’re growing and progressing, and how much she’s missing out on it,” McGilbery said while watching the children. “It may jog her to do better so she won’t ever leave them again.”
Sheriff’s Deputy Phil Marsh was involved in developing the program.
“The overarching goal is to reduce recidivism and regain that bonding with children and to continue that relationship and bonding,” he said. “Hopefully, the door stops and it’s not a revolving door.”
Program participation is limited to those convicted of nonviolent offenses and those who lack restraining orders, Marsh said. He said there are 14 inmates who are participating in a parenting program that would allow them to reunite with their children in the new visitation room.
“Research underscores the profound impact of family visitation on both the incarcerated individual and their children,” Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina said.
Furnishings for the room were supplied by the nonprofit Make It Home. Deputies donated toys and the Friends of the San Rafael Public Library contributed books, Marsh said.
He said the jail’s new program aims to ease an inmate’s transition to home life after release.
Tracey Milne, a jail visitation supervisor, watched Munson interact with her children. She said she will report on her observations of the program.
“We are determining factors on how effective it is,” Milne said. “I can’t imagine that it can’t be.”
California’s recidivism rate reported by the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation for the 2018-19 fiscal year, the most recent year data was available, was 41.9%, a 2.7% decline from the previous year. Recidivism is measured by analyzing former inmates’ arrests, convictions and returns to prison over a three-year period, the department said.
Munson, 25, has served time at two county jails and Chowchilla State Prison in the past four years. Her youngest son was born while she was a Chowchilla inmate.
Munson has been serving time in the Marin County Jail since January and is due to be released April 16. She was convicted of violating her probation after she was arrested on allegations of shoplifting at a CVS Pharmacy, she said.
Munson reflected on her history of stealing grocery and pharmacy merchandise and reselling it.
“The more you get away with it, the more you feel like, ‘Oh yeah, I can do this,’” she said. “I put so much into something like that instead of doing something positive.”
Munson plans to return to school, get a job through a temporary staffing agency and take parenting classes after her release.
“I have a fresh start again, but I’m really anxious and nervous because I want more, I want to do better, I have to stop running to what’s so easy,” she said. “I know that’s my biggest downfall.”