TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Prison reform advocates in Florida are declaring victory after the state failed to act on a rule change on visiting inmates.
The Florida Department of Corrections didn't file to adopt a rule change by the 90-day deadline.
People rallied outside the Governor's Mansion in May to protest a plan to reduce visitation periods.
The Campaign for Prison Reform said keeping inmates from their loved ones creates a number of issues that hurt both the families and the prison system.
"What's at stake here is beyond just the basic, humane, 'we know we need families, we need the interaction with our loved ones.' It's an ongoing cycle of violence that expands the number of people behind bars in this nation, which has the highest number of incarcerated people in the world," said Lakey Love, Executive Director of Campaign for Prison Reform.
The Florida Department of Corrections said it will submit a new draft with proposed changes.
The state is "actively working on reviewing comments" from the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee.
