Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10 largest state prison systems across the United State have either suspended or severely curtailed in-person visitation for an average of 490 days, leaving tens of thousands of inmates without family visits, educational programs, and in some cases, counseling. Members of the Anti-recidivism Coalition have restarted some of their programs in parts of California late last year, and many have come to realize the full impact of the pandemic on the inmate populations.

Ediz Tiyansan reports.