Federal inmates in Philly sue warden for visitation rules

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pre-trial inmates at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia are suing the facility’s warden because they say a strict visitation policy is preventing them from seeing their children.

Inmates awaiting trial at the facility filed suit Thursday saying a policy that allows visits only from immediate family prevents them from seeing children they have with unmarried partners.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court says the rule makes it unreasonably difficult for pre-trial inmates to maintain relationships with their children.

A spokesman for the Federal Detention Center did not immediately return a voicemail seeking comment.

The suit says most of the roughly 1,000 inmates at the facility are awaiting trial and can be held there for months or years.