Some inmates will receive Christmas dinner

Their behavior may have earned them a few lumps of coal this year, but inmates at some area jails still will have a chance to enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner Wednesday.

"The only thing real special is the evening meal normally is a traditional Christmas-type ham and dressing," said Capt. James Mulcahy, Cape Girardeau County Jail administrator.

Portion sizes will be a little larger than usual, Mulcahy said.

"We don't do a whole lot," he said.

Scott County will do something similar.

"We actually do give our inmates a real Christmas meal," said security director Tina, who declined to give her last name.

Visits from family members will have to wait for regular hours, however.

In Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard counties, Saturday is visitation day. In Bollinger County, relatives can visit inmates from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays.

Bollinger and Stoddard county inmates will not receive special meals for Christmas, officials said.

In Perry County, Sheriff Gary Schaaf said a church group donated a Thanksgiving meal for inmates, and he thought something similar was planned for Christmas.

The Perry County Jail no longer arranges face-to-face visits between inmates and family members, but video linkups are available Monday through Friday, Schaaf said.

These digital meetings, which are similar to Skype calls, must be scheduled a day in advance and will be available Wednesday, he said. Loved ones can call 573-547-4576 to set up a video visit with an inmate at the Perry County Jail.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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