Last night I had the immense honor and privilege of attending a virtual screening of Michigan Citizens for Prison Reform’s MI Visits Matter: The Family Cost of Incarceration — a documentary produced in support of the Family Rights Visitation Bill. The bill was introduced the same day, November 7, 2024, by State Representative Emily Dievendorf. Visits save lives. This bill matters.
Legislation at a Glance
Bill Name
Family Rights Visitation Bill (later HB 6090)
Introduced
November 7, 2024 — Michigan House of Representatives
Sponsor
State Representative Emily Dievendorf
Scope
Standardize and protect family visitation rights within Michigan DOC
Documentary
MI Visits Matter: The Family Cost of Incarceration
Who Is MiCPR?
Organization Profile — Michigan Citizens for Prison Reform
Michigan Citizens for Prison Reform (MiCPR)
micpr.org
MiCPR is the lifeline I wish I had known existed when I began navigating life with an incarcerated loved one. They are a Michigan-based advocacy organization that supports families throughout the incarceration process and advocates for fair, humane family contact and visitation policies within the Michigan DOC. Their founder Lois’ story is close to my own — she began her advocacy journey when her son was incarcerated.
If all of this is new to you — if you are just beginning to navigate this system and do not know where to start — check out their family resource guide. You will not regret it.
What the Research Says: Visits Save Lives
The MI Visits Matter documentary cast light on the heavy emotional toll and systemic barriers faced by loved ones of incarcerated individuals, and the Michigan DOC policies that can arbitrarily prevent visits. The data does not lie.
“Preventing visits should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. We are getting closer to that recognition through recent Court of Appeals rulings — and through legislation like this bill.”
The Eighth Amendment Connection
Court of Appeals — No-Contact Restrictions as Constitutional Violations
In 2024, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued opinions in two separate cases requiring the removal of sentencing language that
indefinitely blocked all outside contact — no calls, no letters, no visits — for incarcerated people. The COA found such restrictions raise Eighth Amendment concerns. One person subjected to this restriction suffered a documented mental breakdown. The Family Rights Visitation Bill operates in the same constitutional space: the right to maintain human connection is not a luxury the system can arbitrarily extinguish.
What Losing Visits Does to a Family
Personal Account — Rita Williams
Though our family has never lost visits, we experienced how painful it was to be without them for nearly six months. It was a traumatizing and sad time for me and my children. They went from having their father as a constant presence in their lives to him being completely inaccessible for months. Phone calls were sporadic. With every call, you could hear the desperation in his voice. I found myself often inconsolable. My kids were unable to sleep alone for months, worried that something might happen to me too.
On top of that, we then had to wait for visiting applications to be approved when he was finally placed at a long-term facility. It was a traumatic, unnecessary burden. And it does not have to be that way.
That sentiment was echoed by families who have not seen their loved ones in years. I often say that once DOC takes your loved one, they no longer feel like your loved one — especially when things like this happen.
Take Action
How to Support the Bill
Share your story with MiCPR
If you have lost visits, or want to speak to the power of visits, MiCPR wants to hear from you. Stories may be used at legislative hearings. Email: twalker@micpr.org
Letters of support from incarcerated individuals
If you have an incarcerated loved one who would like to write a letter in support of the bill, they can send it to:
Citizens for Prison Reform (Mi Visits Matter)
PO Box 80414
Lansing, MI 48908
Contact your Michigan House representative
Find and contact your representative at legislature.mi.gov. Ask them specifically to support HB 6090 and the Family Rights Visitation Bill. Name the bill. Be specific.
Use MiCPR’s family resource guide
Whether you are new to the system or a veteran advocate, MiCPR’s family resource guide is one of the most comprehensive tools available for Michigan families.
Related Coverage — Visitation, Family Impact, and Michigan DOC
How to cite: Williams, R. [Rita]. (2024, November 7). Special Screening Pushes Forward the Family Rights Visitation Bill — Here’s How. Clutch Justice. https://clutchjustice.com/2024/11/07/special-documentary-screening-ushers-in-the-family-rights-visitation-bill/
How to Cite This Investigation
Clutch Justice provides original investigative records. Use the formats below for legal filings, academic research, or policy briefs.
Bluebook (Legal)
Rita Williams, [Post Title], Clutch Justice (2026), [URL] (last visited Feb. 14, 2026).
APA 7 (Academic)
Williams, R. (2026, February 14). [Post Title]. Clutch Justice. [URL]
MLA 9 (Humanities)
Williams, Rita. “[Post Title].” Clutch Justice, 14 Feb. 2026, [URL].
For institutional attribution: Williams, R. (2026). Investigative Series: [Name]. ClutchJustice.com.
