A young mother went to visit her incarcerated companion with their three week old daughter.

Since then, she has seen her visiting rights suspended as a precaution.

The reason: the administration accuses him of having introduced his daughter into the visiting room in defiance of the regulations.

The detainee had never seen his three week old daughter.

In Tarascon, the visitation permit of a mother whose companion was imprisoned has been suspended.

The reason: she came with this child without the latter having visitation rights in her name.

In fact, the baby having not yet been recognized by her father, it was impossible for the young woman to obtain such a permit.

However, she says that the supervisors who were on duty on the day of the visit, January 16, 2021, had authorized the presence of her daughter.

>> READ ALSO -

Individual cells in prison: "It's time to change mentalities"

"She asked if we could make an exception"

The inmate's companion went to Tarascon prison, counting on their clemency, while she was breastfeeding.

She was accompanied by her own mother, present to take care of the child.

"I presented myself at the entrance of the prison alone, and the supervisor understood that I had given birth. Because until the end of my pregnancy, I came to visit my companion", explains the prisoner's companion to from Europe 1.

The supervisor inquires about the infant and the young woman explains to her that she is not allowed to enter with her daughter.

"She asked me if I had a birth certificate of my daughter and she told me that she was going to ask the head of the parlor if he could not make an exception, a discrepancy, since my companion did had never seen her child. "

A few minutes pass, then the young mother is allowed to enter with the baby.

The supervisor even lends her a deckchair belonging to the administration and gives her a document which she countersigns.

>> READ ALSO -

Should we open the doors of prisons?

The administration accuses him of having "deceived the supervisors"

The visit goes smoothly.

But the mother is surprised to receive a letter from the penitentiary two days later.

She was told that her visiting rights were suspended as a precaution because she would have "deceived the supervisors" by making prevail an authorization of the direction in the absence of a permit of visit.

The young woman decided to challenge this decision, first of all in a reply letter to the prison administration.

She also wrote a letter to the interregional director of the Marseille prison services to explain her version of the facts.

The prisoner's companion received the support of the International Prison Observatory.

This reminds the administration of the need to respect private and family life.

The Observatory further emphasizes that the presence of the baby did not threaten "the maintenance of good order in the establishment or the prevention of offenses".

However, these reasons are the only ones which can justify a withdrawal or a suspension of the permit to visit a prisoner.