My 15 year old daughter wants to visit her mom in jail. Could she handle it?

A34215 · Sep 12, 2016

Since there is an off topic section here I thought I would ask.

my wife will soon be entering county jail for seven months for a money crime. . I am willing to stick by her and not leave her because I feel She made some stupid mistakes but it was out of character so I think she just got herself into a bad situation and make some poor decisions. And I am not defending her or saying she should not serve her punishment. I told my kids she is rightfully serving her punishment which is the right thing for her mistakes. I am wondering what is the best way to prepare for this situation and how to handle it. I have a daughter who is 15 and she seems to be handling it fine. I told her right away about it and she reacted pretty calmly. She later joked about how her mother is "getting ordered around now". I think it is just a joke and I think it is better to be that way instead of being hysterical about it . I was originally not going to let her visit her mom in jail because I would think exposing her to that environment is not a good idea but I am actually hearing that it is a good idea to let her visit but why? isn't it a bad idea to let a 15 year old be exposed to a jail. She could easily be intimidated by the guards and inmates and just the area. My wife says bring her if she wants to visit but don't if she doesn't. She says she doesn't have a problem visiting but I am not sure.

Even I find the jail environment to be intimidating. If I do, how can a 15 year old handle it?

dennishoddy · Sep 12, 2016

Take her. She already understands why her mom is going. Actually seeing one in person can and will make an impression that can be positive in the future when she is confroned with the same temtations her mom was.
There was a TV program a few years back called Scared Straight. The program took wanna-be bangers, delinquents, drug users, and others in their teens to actual prisons and marched them through the general population part of the prison while the inmates were in their cells taunting them with sexual innuendo's, profanity's, etc.
Later, they had them sit down with inmates that described their life and what they did wrong to end up where they were.
Hell, it scared me. I never want to be locked up like that.
Don't know for a fact, but I'm betting the family visits will not be in that same atmosphere and will be in an area that is not intimidating.

Chad King · Sep 12, 2016

Family visits are in a visiting area you won't see anything bad with her serving 7 months she should be in a minimum security prison so no actual terrible people should be around. With a sentence that short it's probably better to let her visit rather then wait the few months. My dad served 12 years I was 10 when he went in and 14 the first time my mom finally took me to visit him and he was in a federal prison didn't really have any affect on me other then getting to spend some time with my dad. So I do know how my experience was and doubt yours would be negative.

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drmitchgibson · Sep 12, 2016

Jail is boring. Make sure your wife shows you her tits during visitation. That's usually fun.

FortyMikeMike · Sep 13, 2016

I agree with Dennis. Take her with if she wants to visit. I think it'll be a beneficial perspective for both your wife and daughter to have contact during this time.