Braless

Published
by
mandy
on Fri, 2013-04-26 17:10

 

hi everyone!

 

it's been a long time since i've posted anything here.  i had hoped that the blog would continue to be used by prisoners after my release, and although it's been a slow start, i still hope that will happen.  i've been in touch recently with a woman named Jeanette Tossounion who is currently serving a sentence at Vanier.  she asked me to post the following piece to Bored But Not Broken.  it's a really good example of the pettiness of the institution's need for control, and of the significant consequences it can have on the inmates there.  

 

i have a piece from an inmate at Edmonton Institution that i'll post here soon.  please keep reading - there are so many people looking to tell their stories to people who give a shit.  and if you're in touch with any prisoners please do let them know that they're welcome to post stuff here.  thanks!

read more

so this is it folks. . .

Published
by
mandy
on Sun, 2012-12-02 18:37

November 21 - Aries - Life is good and about to get even better.  You can't quite believe that ?  Well you will when you begin to see that everything is going your way at last.  Keeping a positive attitude is easy when so many positive things are happening. 

read more

things that shouldn't happen

Published
by
mandy
on Thu, 2012-11-29 08:04

the inquiry into the death of Ashley Smith in a Federal Penitentiary five years ago has been shining a much needed light on policy and procedure at Correctional Services Canada, and on the behaviour and attitudes of some of the people it employs.

recently some people on my unit were discussing a newspaper article about the inquiry.  this led to a conversation about the lack of proper care for people with physical and mental health needs here at Vanier, and the ways in which they're often neglected and mistreated.  i asked if anyone would like to write their stories down for the blog and i got four back, to which i've added two of my own.

if you're not familiar with the incarcerated female population, there's one very important thing to know: the vast majority of inmates suffer from depression, trauma, and/or addiction, and many deal with illnesses such as schizophrenia and severe anxiety disorders.  when you read about the conditions in jails and the way prisoners are treated it's especially important to keep that in mind.

read more