rabble.ca - Stark Raven: Prison Justice

Women raise their voices beyond the bars: Women's music in prison

Stark Raven — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:06:42 +0000

Music plays a part in almost everyone's life. Whether it be listening to it, singing, playing instruments or dancing.

Leah Abramson is someone who knows how important music can be. Putting energy into playing music during challenging times in her life has helped her stay grounded.

Penned In: A collection of literary creations from both sides of the fence

Stark Raven — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:26:32 +0000

Writing can be a lifeline for those in prison. Whether it be poems, fiction, personal stories or essays the expression is often therapeutic.

The Creative Writing Program at Matsqui federal prison is one initiative that encourages this self-expression.

Every Friday morning, outside volunteers drive out to the prison in Abbotsford to work with the men inside to encourage their writing. Writer Andrea Winterbottom has been volunteering with the program for the past year.

Andrea recently published an anthology of writing from both the prisoners, and some outside writers who are connected to the Creative Writing Program at Matsqui. It is called Penned In: A collection of literary creations from both sides of the fence.

Prisoners and their families face bureaucratic nightmare behind bars

Stark Raven — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:57:18 +0000

Our society sends people to prison for breaking laws. These are rules we are told to follow in order to ensure the effective, respectful functioning of our society.

There does seem to be an irony to the fact that the very institution where we send lawbreakers, is often devoid of the rule of law.

Dawn is one woman who has experienced this. She has seen her husband through several years in the federal prison system. They have both been dealing with the bureaucracy and arbitrary-ness behind the walls.

Dawn is currently supporting her husband in fighting a recent transfer to maximum security. One he says is unjustified and based on that very arbitrariness.

Prisoner writings as literature

Stark Raven — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:53:35 +0000

Deena Rymhs speaks to Stark Raven's Tiffany Chong about her new book "Cell Block Country: Prison Literature in Canada." Deena is a professor in the departments of English and Women and Gender Studies at the University of British Columbia.

Bill S-10: More mandatory minimums for drugs

Stark Raven — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:44:33 +0000

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Creating mandatory minimum sentences for various drug crimes has long been on the Tories look tough on crime agenda.

Saving the prison farms: It's time for civil disobedience

Stark Raven — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:40:00 +0000

For more than 150 years, prisoners have had the chance to work on farms inside the prison system.

In February 2009, it was revealed that the Harper government was planning to shut down this longstanding program.

Once the word got out, a wave of opposition from across the country organized to defend the farms. People could not understand why the prison was closing, what they saw as an innovative, sustainable and effective program.

Even as the government carries forth with their plans, people are continuing to fight to keep the farms running. And some of them are using civil disobedience to get their message across.

Mass hunger strike at Toronto jail inspired by Prison Justice Day

Stark Raven — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:20:52 +0000

Inspired by Prison Justice Day, hundreds of prisoners started a hunger strike in Toronto on Monday August 9th.

Those being held at the Toronto East Detention Centre are protesting a number of conditions from inadequate healthcare to lack of food to unexplained lockdowns.

Lisa has heard about the conditions inside the jail firsthand. Her boyfriend has been detained there since May.

Stark Raven spoke with Lisa about what is happening inside the detention centre on the first day of the hunger strike.

If you want to offer support, know of media who would be interested in covering the story or know of organizations that could support the prisoners, please email Lisa at lisa84(at)rogers.com.

Marking Prison Justice Day, on the inside and outside

Stark Raven — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:38:35 +0000

August 10th is an important day for prisoners. It is Prison Justice Day, a memorial day for those living in prison, their families and the community to remember those who have died behind bars.

Prisoners mark the annual day by fasting and refusing to work. On the outside community groups organize to raise awareness about inside conditions.

Understanding Fetal Alcohol and why many of those affected end up in jail

Stark Raven — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:16:38 +0000

It is becoming clearer, that prisons are where a lot of people living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are ending up. And prison is the last place they should be to find the support and interventions they need.

Stark Raven spoke with Vancouver lawyer, David Boulding about FASD and its relationship to the criminal justice system.

David became an advocate and educator on FASD, after many years of making mistakes working with clients in the system who had FASD. In the past decade he has done dozens of workshops, presentations and written papers on FASD and the law.

For more information on his work, check out davidboulding.com

Cutbacks all round (except for the prison building budget...)

Stark Raven — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:10:37 +0000

Are we becoming the next prison nation?

Even in this economic crisis, governments are managing to find billions of dollars to build new prisons.

Provincial governments are spending $3 billion dollars. The federal government? We don't know, as they aren't telling us what their plans actually are, even after numerous Access to Information requests.

But Justin Piche has been trying to find out. Justin is a Phd student who is studying prison expansion in Canada. He has also started up a campaign calling for a

Canadian Punishment Legislation Moratorium Campaign.

Keeping in touch across prison walls isn't easy

Stark Raven — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:54:41 +0000

Keeping in touch with loved ones behind bars can be a struggle.

Stark Raven spoke with Kristy, who has been trying to keep a relationship with her brother, who has been in prison for the past two years.

Kristy has learned first hand that the system, while on paper and in theory supports visitors, doesn't live up to its claims. She is finding a lot of barriers including a culture of suspicion, expensive phone charges, inaccurate ion scanning and drug detection at the gate, long travel times and a lack of support.

Canada's role in torturing Afghan prisoners

Stark Raven — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:06:43 +0000

Canada's top military police investigator says he didn't investigate reports of torture in Afghanistan because he didn't know anything about it. The military police complaints commission is hearing testimony in Ottawa to determine how much Canadian soldiers knew about the torture of Afghan detainees who were transferred into Afghan custody. Grace Pastine is the Litigation Director for the BC Civil Liberties Association. She has been in Ottawa acting as counsel at these hearings.

Deconstructing Psychiatry: Filmmaker and activist explore psychiatry's impact on their lives

Stark Raven — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:39:21 +0000

Vancouver filmmaker Cindy Lou Griffith's relationship with psychiatry started even before she was born. Her father had been committed to Riverview Mental Hospital as a young man and continued to be sent there for the next 30-plus years. But treatments of electro-shock therapy and harsh medications didn't do much to help him. She explores the impact of psychiatry on her father and others who've been part of the psychiatric system in a series of films. One of the people Cindy Lou documents is author and anti-psychiatry activist Irit Shimrat. They both spoke to Stark Raven's Tiffany Chong.

How much protection does Canada's child welfare system provide?

Stark Raven — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:04:17 +0000

Ottawa-based filmmaker Andree Cazabon's life took a hard turn when she ended up living on the street as a young teenager. The experience has driven her to produce a number of films about young people who end up living on the street, in the care of the government, or in jail. Andree speaks about her experience on the street and what can be done to care for youth better, and keep them from entering the criminal justice system. She is speaking in Abbotsford, BC this week at the Fraser Valley Criminal Justice Conference.

Dr. Sherene Razack on 'Reflections on Torture at Abu Ghraib'

Stark Raven — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:41:43 +0000

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Olympic Image? 1976 Montreal pre-Games crackdown on queers

Stark Raven — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:10:00 +0000

In advance of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, everything needed to look, "nice and presentable" to upkeep a certain image. Walls were painted, pretty lights erected, street poles adorned with blue and green flags. Poverty and addiction aren’t part of this "nice" Vancouver Olympic image. Minimizing visible signs of these "messy" issues have been part of the Olympic project.

Back in 1976 in advance of the Montreal Games, there was similar coordinated effort to clean up the streets. At that time, queer people were living more underground. And they were a prime target for this clean up campaign.

$1 billion? Cops, cameras and Olympic security

Stark Raven — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:01:55 +0000

Death Under Police Watch: Part 2

Stark Raven — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:14:31 +0000

Sylvia Fee's brother was shot to death by Vancouver Police officers. Years later, Fee is still looking for answers and accountability. This recording is from a talk Sylvia gave as part of the BC Civil Liberties Association's Death in Custody Forum held in 2007.

Death Under Police Watch: Part 1

Stark Raven — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:02:23 +0000

A North Vancouver man recently died after he was shot by a police officer. The shooting death is currently under investigation, but it raises questions around police-involved deaths and deaths in custody. This topic was explored by a panel of international experts in Vancouver on January 21, 2010. Stark Raven Radio's Tiffany Chong interviews David MacAlister - one of the organizers of this public forum. He is a Criminology professor at Simon Fraser University and the Coordinator of BC Civil Liberties Association’s Death In Custody Project.

Mother and Baby Prison Program Cancelled

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:40:38 +0000

Stark Raven host Tiffany Chong interviews Christine about what new mothers going into jail will face now that BC Corrections has cancelled the mother and baby program. The program allowed mothers to keep their babies with them while serving time. BC Corrections quietly cancelled the program in April because they say they can't ensure the safety of infants. Christine served time at Alouette Correctional Centre for Women and helped in the mother and baby unit. She is now working as a peer researcher with the Women Into Healing project. Alouette Correctional Centre for Women is a provincial jail located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Omar Khadr stays in Guantanamo despite court ruling his Charter rights are violated

Stark Raven — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:09:16 +0000

It’s been eight years since the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre in Cuba. A group of Vancouver human rights advocates held a vigil and public forum recently to remind us of one Canadian prisoner who still remains there. Omar Khadr was 15 years old when he was sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2002. To this day, the Canadian government refuses to repatriate him, despite a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that Khadr's Charter Rights have been violated. Tiffany Chong of Stark Raven Radio in Vancouver spoke to Gail Davidson about Omar Khadr’s situation. Gail is the Executive Director of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and a member of Lawyers Against the War.

Christian-based prison coming to Canada?

Stark Raven — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:58:23 +0000

A Christian group is making steps to build Canada's first faith-based prison unit in Manitoba.... With hopes of expanding the program to B.C. Prison Fellowship Canada is planning a new provincial women's institution that would teach Christian principles and values. Stark Raven Radio's Tiffany Chong speaks to Reverend Eleanor Clitheroe of Prison Fellowship Canada, SFU Criminology professor Liz Elliott and Glen Flett of L.I.N.C (Long-term Inmates Now in the Community).

Kamloops group is moving women beyond bars

Stark Raven — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:41:51 +0000

A group of women in Kamloops are finding a way to rebuild their lives... after prison. Moving Women Beyond Bars is a new group that's supporting formerly incarcerated women.

Stark Raven Radio's Tiffany Chong speaks to Rose Warnell and Gail Carrier who are founding members of this group.

Newborn baby removed from mom in prison: Now reunited

Stark Raven — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:39:35 +0000

Patricia Block tells her story of giving birth while serving time at BC's Fraser Valley Institution. Patricia had requested to serve a federal sentence so that she'd be able to keep her baby with her because the prison has a unit specifically built for mothers and babies. But because of a lack of communication between government agencies, Patricia's baby was put into foster care two days after being born. Now on the outside and re-united with her daughter, Patricia looks back to reflect on what happened... and talks about what she's doing to make sure this doesn't happen to other women in the future.

Migrant workers detained in South Korea

Stark Raven — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:12:30 +0000

Seonok Lee is an activist and academic from South Korea. She discusses the plight of migrant workers in South Korea who challenge the draconian laws which criminalize their presence in the country... and the government's response of increased force.

Buddhist nun brings meditation inside prison

Stark Raven — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:42:50 +0000

Ann McNeil is a tibetan buddhist nun who serves as a chaplain at several BC prisons. She talks about the work she does to support and guide prisoners in buddhism and meditation. She is part of a panel discussion discussing meditation in prison happening Monday, November 16 at Langara College in Vancouver. It's part of a screening of the film "The Dhamma Brothers".

More information at http://vancouverbpf.wordpress.com/

Animal rights activists fight U.S. terrorism law

Stark Raven — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:36:29 +0000

Animal rights activists are increasingly being targetted by the state as terrorists. The criminalization of animal rights activism was sealed into law in the US when the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was passed in 2006. The Center for Constitutional Rights argues this law is creating a chilling effect for activism and sets a dangerous precedent. Matthew Strugar is a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights based in Los Angeles. He has defended a number of animal rights activists who've been charged under this law.

For more information about the criminalization of animal and environmental activists, go to www.greenisthenewred.com

South Korea jails young men who refuse military service

Stark Raven — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:14:38 +0000

Jeff Lazar is an American filmmaker based in Seoul, South Korea, who is documenting the growing movement against mandatory military service in that country. He talks about the many young men who are jailed for refusing to do military service... and the lengths others go to in order to avoid jail and the military.

Sri Lankan Refugees Remain in Detention

Stark Raven — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:16:54 +0000

Seventy-six men arrived off the coast of British Columbia in a barge from Sri Lanka in mid-October. All, but one, continue to be detained in a jail outside of Vancouver. The Sri Lankan government suggests these men have ties to the Tamil Tigers, but advocates say those accusations hold no truth. Todd Ross speaks for Canadian Human Rights Voice, a non-profit organization advocating for human rights in Sri Lanka.

Prisoners find accessing safe sex... isn't so safe

Stark Raven — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:15:18 +0000

Having safe sex inside prison... is a lot more complicated than you might think. This was what members of a queer prisoner support group in Montreal discovered... when they tried to create a program advocating safe sex on the inside. Liam Michaud-O'Grady and Julia De Montigny offer a workshop called "You Improvise To Survive". They gathered statements from gay, queer and trans prisoners across the US and Canada on what sexual "safety" means when condom access is restricted or when queer sex is criminal.

For more information about this workshop and about the work Liam and Julia do, go to http://www.prisonercorrespondenceproject.com/?page_id=159