Denver jail launches in-person visitation clothing project
FOX31 Denver
[{'start': '1.634', 'end': '5.471', 'text': "QUACK ALSO TOOK A PLEA DEAL IN   THIS CASE. HE'S GOING TO BE   SENTENCED TOMORROW. WELL, YEAR   AFTER THE DENVER COUNTY   SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BROUGHT   BACK IN-PERSON VISITATION TO   THE COUNTY JAIL, THEY'RE   LAUNCHING SOMETHING CLOTHING   PROJECT THAT ALLOWS THOSE IN   CUSTODY TO WEAR EVERYDAY   STREET CLOSED FOR VISITS. BUT   AS FOX THIRTY-ONE'S GABBY   EASTERWOOD SHOWS US THAT   WASN'T THE ONLY NEW THING.   >> WELL, SHERIFF SAYS THE GOAL   OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HUMANIZE   THE INMATES AND NOT FURTHER   TRAUMATIZE FAMILY   >> TODAY IS A MOMENTOUS   OCCASION FOR THE DENVER   SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. AS WE   EMBARK ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT   BEING DONE IN ANY JAIL IN THE   COUNTRY. THIS WILL BE THE VIEW   FOR INMATES AS THEY WALK INTO   THIS VISITATION SPACE.   >> AFTER HAVING A CHOICE OF   NON INSTITUTIONAL EVERYDAY   CLOTHES, THE MAJORITY OF THEM   ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO   COMMITTEE. WE WANT TO SET THEM   UP FOR SUCCESS AND THEIR   FAMILIES FOR SUCCESS. THE   DESIGN OF THE CREATING A   WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR   RECONNECTION. THE MURAL   READING. HE'LL THE PAST LIVE.   THE PRESIDENT AND DURING THE   FUTURE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE   BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE   FACES THAT ARE ON THE WALL AND   FLOUR AND TO SEE THAT'S   PLANTED THAT SEED THAT WE'RE   PLANNING HERE.   >> IS THE SEED OF HOPE. THE   SEED OF CONNECTION, THE SEED   OF DIGNITY AND HUMANITY.   >> SHERIFF ALLIES DIGGINS   DRAWING ON HIS OWN   EXPERIENCES. HIS FATHER ONCE   AN INMATE HERE SEEING YOUR   PARENT COMING OUT. IN INMATE   UNIFORM IS SOMETHING THAT YOU   NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR MIND.   >> SO IF WE WANT TO BRING   FAMILIES TOGETHER AND IF WE   WANT TO REDUCE THE TRAUMA, THE   FAMILIES, HALF BY THEIR   INCARCERATION EXPECTS PERIODS   BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE DOING   TIME AS WELL. WHY NOT?   >> DENVER COUNCILWOMAN SHONTEL   LEWIS FACILITATED THE   PARTNERSHIP WITH GOODWILL TO   PROVIDE THE CLOTHING, CREATING   NO ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THE   DEPARTMENT. WHEN YOU STRIP   AWAY THE JUMPSUIT, YOU RESTORE   DIGNITY WHEN A PARENT CAN SEE   THEIR CHILD OR LOVED ONE CAN   HOLD A HAND WITHOUT THAT   LAYER. SHAME.   >> YOU BEGIN TO HEAL SOMETHING   THEY BELIEVE THIS WILL HAVE A   DIRECT EFFECT ON THESE   INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCES ONCE   THEY'RE RELEASED. AND THE HOPE   IS THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE   SUCCESS IN LEADING THEM DOWN   THE RIGHT PATH WHEN THEY   LEAVE. WE HOPE THAT THEY   REMEMBER THESE EXPERIENCES.   >> AND HOW THEY RETREATED   KNOWING THAT THEY WERE NOT   PUNISHED. BOTHER HERE. THE   DEPRIVATION OF THEIR FREEDOM    WAS THEIR PUNISHMENT. WHEN   THEY GO HOME. WE HOPE THAT   THEY CONTINUE TO STAY ALMOST   TRACKS"}]