To About Time,
My name is Tim, and I have been incarcerated for four years, during which time I haven't been afforded the opportunity to see my kids once.
I am just one of many people living inside prison while having children on “the outside". It's one of the hardest things to deal with, for a start. I am just like everyone else who is serving a sentence in that I have had my freedom and my rights taken from me. Then on top of that, as a dad, I am restricted from seeing my kids.
My kids mean the absolute world to me, and I have always sworn to be their protector, their teacher, their friend and someone who will always be there to listen to them anytime they need an ear. Regrettably, I made some mistakes in my life that led me to be incarcerated and lose so many things and people that others might take for granted.
That includes having face-to-face contact with my kids. I call them every couple of days at least and I cherish every second that I get to talk to them. Two of the hardest things during my calls with them are when we say goodbye and when the kids ask me when they can see me.
I have no other answer for them except that the decision is entirely up to the prison. I have applied through this prison twice now to see the kids and have been rejected both times. I have completed the appropriate programs asked of me by the General Manager. These include offender specific programs and also programs that I have opted to do of my own will which include programs such as the positive parenting programs and alcohol and other drugs programs.
I have done a lot of soul searching, self-help education and programs while I have been incarcerated to help better myself as a person and as a father. I have no IVOs or court orders against me stating that I cannot see my kids, yet the jail still refuses to let me see them face-to-face or even facilitate supervised Zoom visits with them.
I will go seven years without seeing my kids at the choice of this jail.
I am only one of many blokes who have reached the same outcome when applying to see their children.
The jail preaches about priding themselves on keeping family connections, yet they are rejecting child visit applications.
I believe that our children deserve better than being told they can't see their dads solely based on a decision made by the jail. Kids need their dads too.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice our opinions in something like About Time.
