DOZENS of excited family members flocked to the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston on Friday to spend time with their loved ones on the inside ahead of the Christmas holidays.

“It’s like a family gathering. I can get to hug him and sit down and talk to him,” said Gloria, whose grandson is serving a three-year sentence.

She was referring to the prison’s Family Day treat, an event much anticipated by the inmates and their families, which is held twice per year, in August and December.

“It’s really a time when visitors get to sit and have a 15-minute conversation with their loved ones, as on a normal visiting day they would only get five minutes,” Superintendent A D Brown, who is in charge of the institution, told the Jamaica Observer.

He said the visits are conducted in an open area rather than behind a screen, and up to two people can be admitted to an inmate during a visit.

Sylvia said she travelled from Portland to spend the extra time to pray with her brother who is serving three years in prison.

“You know, because it’s Christmas you usually spend time with your family and ting… I can’t wait until next week Wednesday (when visitors can take meals) to bring him some Christmas dinner, because he loves jerk chicken,” she said.

“His son came for the Children’s Day (Thursday) and he was so overjoyed, especially because there was a treat.”

Nardian, who was visiting her boyfriend, chimed in: “Right now mi feel happy that I will be able to talk to him a little longer. I wish he wasn’t in there but we just have to work with the programme.”

She said that this would be the highlight of her boyfriend’s Christmas.

“The extra time means a lot because sometimes all I get to do is carry things that he needs and then leave,” she said.

Superintendent Brown said for the Children’s Day, 463 children visited 224 inmates and they got a chance to go out in the open space with them.

The prison, also known as General Penitentiary, was built to house 800 inmates, but currently accommodates more than 1,400 men.