At the Mende remand center, on-call services for families before and after visiting rooms

Les permanences permettent de mieux appréhender les parloirs dans la maison d’arrêt. Midi Libre – –

Ce vendredi 29 mars, l’association Accueil familles de détenus a tiré un bilan positif de ses actions à l’occasion de son assemblée générale annuelle.

At the Mende remand center, the visiting rooms are open to incarcerated people on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday afternoons. For those close to them who sometimes come from far away, the Accueil Familles de Prisonés association has been offering on-call services for sixteen years. These moments of sharing aim to make them wait but also to offer them a moment of discussion before or after the visiting rooms. It was time to take stock, this Friday March 29, 2024, on the occasion of the annual general meeting of the association.

50% more attendance

"We are very satisfied because we have regained our pre-Covid-19 attendance, explains Nicole in the preamble Hernandes, president of the association. Over the year 2023, 1 265 people were welcomed during an on-call service, including 919 adults, 290 children and 56 babies." An increase considerable if we compare these figures to those of 2022: 622 people, an increase in reception of +50%.

The number of volunteers has remained stable. There are 25 people who make up the association and who, in pairs, run the hours. "I was pleasantly surprised by the ;investment compared to other places, underlines Patricia Berger, director of the Prison Integration and Probation Service (Spip) of Lozère. The association is very active."

"A decompression airlock"

With around a dozen monthly shifts, volunteers are called upon approximately once a month. "We are always looking for new people, especially for the Saturday shift", insists Nicole Hernandes. The missions are simple: offer some time to relax to the detainees' loved ones. It can be by chatting, listening, offering tea… All without judging or taking sides. "You are a decompression SAS for families", points Nicole Hernandes, addressing the volunteers present. "Your actions allow them to be appeased before entering the remand center", continues Emmanuel Eynard, head of the establishment, thanking the volunteers.

Budget-wise, Reception of families of prisoners ends the year 2023 in balance. Charges and expenses cost 3 841 €, for 3 923 € of products, including 1 600 € subsidies (300 euros from the Department, 500 euros from Cœur de Lozère and 800 euros from the Regional Directorate of Public Finances). The investment of volunteers rose to more than 1,100 hours over the year, for voluntary in-kind contributions estimated at more than 16,000. ;euro;.

The meeting ended with a debate between volunteers and representatives of the prison administration, particularly on the means put in place to fight against recidivism. Enriching discussions which were followed by a meal at the Hôtel du Pont-Roupt for all the volunteers.

To become a volunteer, contact Nicole Hernandes on 06 77 42 47 54 or at hernandes.nicole@orange.fr I subscribe to read more