There is growing interest from policymakers and the public to help incarcerated people succeed after release. One of the most effective ways to ensure a successful reentry into society is to encourage the inmates to remain in contact with their family and friends. Research confirms that visits and maintaining family ties are the best ways to reduce recidivism notwithstanding, the reality of having a loved one behind bars is that visits are unnecessarily grueling and frustrating. Almost by definition, incarceration separates individuals from their families, but for decades this country has also placed unnecessary burdens on the family members left behind. Certainly, in practice and perhaps by design, prisons are lonely places. Visitation and communication require additional hardships on the support group. There are hard costs associated with remaining in touch with an inmate. If you are visiting, you have to have to find transportation to the facility, if it’s pho...