I was just reflecting on all of the things I’m upset about with regards to Girr’s incarceration, other than the fact that, you know, he’s in jail… and realized how ignorant I feel for how extremely limited my knowledge was about the life someone who has been imprisoned by the Canadian state until the love of my life started experiencing it.
I’m not going to pretend that I’m some vault of information now, because I’m definitely not, but I have learned a huge amount over the last few months. I’ve already mentioned a few of these things in previous posts but I’d just like to make an outline of what I’ve learned about the reality of Canadian provincial jails, starting out by clearing up a few myths.
Myth: If you request to see a doctor or a nurse, you will be able to do so.
It would definitely be untrue to claim that this is never possible, as Girr in fact did talk to a nurse while he was at Penatang. However, since shortly after arriving at Maplehurst he has been requesting to see a nurse (for apparent reason, not just because he feels like it…) and has been unable to do so. It has been almost a month.
Myth: You are given clean clothing to wear.
At Penatang and the Don, inmates are provided with clean jumpsuits twice a week. At Maplehurst, however, you have to ask a guard to provide a clean jumpsuit when you need one. Which means of course that if the guard decides for what ever reason he doesn’t want you to have one… you don’t get one. Girr has requested a clean jumpsuit multiple times and is still wearing the one from when he first got there. On top of that, all of the inmates are only provided with two pairs of boxers and two pairs of socks every week. I’m pretty sure it’s a fairly standard social norm to change your socks and underwear everyday… but apparently in jail this is not necessary.
Myth: You can send books and magazines to jail.
Okay, you can send them, but not just by sticking them in an envelope and sending them off. All books and magazines must be sent directly from the publisher, which of course means buying them new and paying their shipping costs. For a little while at Maplehurst a few guards were allowing books and magazines in, but they’ve recently all been reminded that this is not acceptable and are no longer doing so.
Myth: In Canada, you are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Maplehurst is separated into two halves: the detention centre, or DC, and the correctional centre, or CC. The DC is supposed to be for inmates who have not yet been sentenced, and the CC for inmates who have already been sentenced. I’m under the impression (but may be incorrect) that it is normal for people to stay on the DC side for a short amount of time before being transferred to CC, but for whatever reason Girr is still in the DC. Of the people on his range, only a very small amount have actually been found guilty of committing the crime that they are being incarcerated for, if they have been convicted of a crime at all. I just did a bit of research and apparently in 2005 approximately half of every person in Canada who was imprisoned was either awaiting trial or had not been convicted of a crime. However this number had increased by 83% from 1995 to 2005, so I feel certain that it’s significantly more than that now.
Myth: You spend a large amount of the time either outside (in that huge field you can see from the highway) or out on the range.
Think about it, if you live near Milton and have driven passed Maplehurst on the 401 have you ever actually seen the inmates outside? I know I haven’t. When Girr’s range is allowed to go outside (at Maplehurst this is a few times a week) they are let out into a small, crowded courtyard. Right, surrounded by more walls. Normally he doesn’t even bother to go outside because it just depresses him, he uses the time to call me instead as it means the range is pretty empty. For 18 hours a day, Girr is locked in his cell with his cellmate. For the other six, in three intervals of two hours, he’s allowed out on the range, where he can shower, make phone calls, play cards, or just walk around.
Myth: There are programs and work opportunities available in jail.
Though Girr doesn’t particularly need any of the programs a jail might offer and doesn’t want to help run the institution that has stolen his freedom, he has expressed willingness to participate in programs or obtain work in jail in order to help the time pass more quickly. However, he has been unable to access any programs at all and the work available is very limited. There are servers, and guys who distribute the mail, and guys who push the book cart, but from what I understand that is pretty much it, and these jobs go to the ones who have been there the longest (understandably). I call these jobs, but I’d just like to clarify, they don’t actually get paid for doing them. They just get little “treats” like candy and stuff. You know, like rewarding a dog for fetching you the morning paper. It’s disgusting.
Myth: There are no children incarcerated in adult Canadian provincial jails.
Kinda seems like a given, eh? Not the case. As I mentioned in one of my first posts, when Girr was at the Don there was a boy there with him who was only fourteen. I’m going to be totally honest, when he first told me that, I automatically assumed that this child had done something absolutely terrible, like the shit you see in horror movies where the kid kills their family while they are all asleep or something, because of course he couldn’t have been tried as an adult if not. That wasn’t the case… I’m going to copy and paste what I wrote about it in the earlier post because the story was fresher in my memory then. “His father was really drunk, and was beating the shit out of his mom. He was going to kill her. So he grabbed a knife, and he stabbed him in the back. He probably saved his mother’s life. He said after he stabbed him his father then attacked him, the knife still protruding from his back.” As he is now 14 and has already been sentenced, I’m guessing he was 12 or 13 when this took place. He essentially saved his mother’s life, and not only was he sentenced as an adult and given jail time but he was sentenced to 8 years jail time.
Myth: If you go to jail you are likely to get raped.
Okay, finally, I’m actually going to say something positive. Well, sort of. I really don’t know much about federal prisons, and I know it’s extremely different in the USA, but people do not get raped in Canadian provincial jails. Though this is of course absolutely fantastic, the reason for it isn’t exactly good. Jails tend to be extensively homophobic, so it was pretty much explained to me that if a guy were to rape someone in jail other inmates would probably end up cutting his dick off because they are so anti-homosexuality. I don’t know if this is an exaggeration, or if in a provincial jail it’s actually more because the vast majority of the inmates are actually good people who don’t think rape is acceptable and would stand up against it if it were to occur, but either way rape really doesn’t take place in provincial jails.
Alright, I’ll probably think of more later, but that’s all I’ve got for now. Thanks for reading. Solidarity, love and rage.
**Please check out my novel, The Crashes of Waves! Available in print or an ebook for just $3.03! (Preview Available Here) Also available at a discounted price through Amazon.
Hey,
The KWCS (http://kwcs.2010resistance.ca/ – which is full of out-of-date info at the moment) is putting together a sort of ‘zine/handbook/guide to the Ontario prison system – would you be okay with us maybe using some of this?
I think it’s also worth pointing out that conditions are actually MUCH more restrictive in DC than CC (remand vs sentenced), particularly in that you (depending on the facility) get a lot more privileges, such as time out on the range, once you’re sentenced. Which is a little strange and really illustrates the falseness of the “innocent until proven guilty” crap.
Adam also ended up on a remand range for a good chuck of his time at CNCC/Penetang, and he had to go back to shorter visits and such, even though he was sentenced and therefore, in theory, should have had long visits. That was really frustrating.
Also, some places don’t let you send books directly to prisoners at ALL, even from publishers, unless you get special permission. It’s so inconsistent.
Laura
Yes, you are definitely welcome to, and I really appreciate all of the additional information you gave me. 🙂 Cheers.
Great! And maybe we can send you a draft of the handbook when we get some work done and we can see if you have anything else to add? Since every one’s experience is so different, we’d love to get more input.
Yeah that sounds great, I’d love to.
I am absolutely repulsed by a lot of these comments. People do not realize that many, many men and women end up in our prisons for non violent offences. Yes! you can serve more than three years time (or more) for summary convictions. You can be a first time offender too. We are not just talking about indictable offences that carry lengthy sentences.
The legal and court system is unbalanced and corrupt especially within Ontario. People receive sentences out of proportion to the seriousness of their crime.
The conditions of our jails are nearly deplorable and once some gets in the system it’s very difficult to get them out of it. People do NOT know what’s really going on. Everyone reading and commenting on this post could find themselves at the mercy of the system one day as another comment on here from a while back suggests. Again, it could be something like backing up in a parking lot and accidentally killing someone or having an item fall into your purse while shopping. It could be anything, you really have no idea.
er, a good *chunk* of his time at CNCC, not “chuck”. oops.
Hi,
Effective January 1, inmates are not allowed to receive books even directly from publishers.
I believe they are coming with new ways of torturing inmates.
It’s very sad!
that’s awful.
My loved one is in Maplehurst, Are you able to send a couple pages printed off a computer of a short story? Or print out suitable magazine pages? Or will they just throw mail away like that? Also what are the rules of the size of envelopes and how many pages are in it? Please help thank you!!!!
i just got out of Stratford Jail and was able to make off with a copy of the posted notice about how all books and reading material is now banned from the mail. anyone interested can email me at guelphgrows@gmail.com canteen is the only way to get any new reading material and it’s only pre-approved magazines and no newspapers or book options. each jail is different in how they implement this…i’ve seen maplehurst, stratford and sarnia. none have very many books at all. the ones available are all fiction and falling apart. maplehurst book cart comes once per month now and you must put a book out to get a book back in. we only had 4 books on our range for 32 guys and after a month we got to swap those 4 for another 4 books that were completely random and even then, I never got to read any of them. on range 11-A you could rent a national geographic for a rate of one peanut butter per day from “the store” in cell 13. not joking.
My boyfriend who is 19 is in maplehurst right now. He was just sentenced this february. He hasn’t called for 3 days, and I’m really worried. I don’t know how the system runs, but I was wondering if you could help me out. He’s already been sentenced and is in maplehurst till valentines day. Should I be worried? Please help!
Yes
Hi there, thank you so much for sharing this information.
To the person who said inmates can no longer receive books, I was just wondering where you found this information? My partner is going away this month, and I just wanted to know if he’ll be able to read and such. Thanks!
You can’t receive books from the outside. This may be related to the recent change in the canteen supplier. However, books are available from the facilitys book collection or can be purchased through your caneen. About 10 books available for purchase and 25 magazines through canteen.Books include popular titles like “The Hunger Games” and new ones are availabe ever couple months. Magazines are listed as Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or yearly. Also puzzle books like suduku are available too. Canteen sheets are handed out every Sunday and get submitted Monday for delivery Saturday. Looks like the sheets are processed Wednesday morning so have your money in your account by then to be safe. The weekly max is $60 and no more the 7 of an item. Monopoly, Chess and Checkers are availble along with many other items.
Thank you for this sharing of your knowledge. It is helpful in many ways.
Sincerely,
Another friend of another inmate.
I guess things vary greatly between different jails, because things were much different for me in Lindsay. Though it did take a while to see a doctor, you have the opportunity to see a nurse twice a day when she comes around with the meds. 3 Times a week we got clean jumpers, socks, and boxers, and it was very easy to take an extra roll- I had a huge pile of clean clothes almost all the time. As for work and programs, it does take a few weeks, but it’s very easy to get into that. I worked in the kitchen, and it was great. Lots of good times, double servings of food, and sometimes you’d get proper cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, poutine, etc.While on the work range you also get access to the weight room, a gym with basketball and soccer, and flatscreen TVs. A huge amount of people were finishing highschool (I did alot of their work to pass the time and for free canteen), and almost everyone was in some sort of program, eg. I was in the substance abuse program and anger management. All in all, it really isn’t that bad at all, many aspects were quite enjoyable to tell the truth.
My god man, are you kidding me? You are part of the problem and certainly not the solution. I can’t believe that after the gov stripped you down naked and hired a bunch of maniacs to consistently take away your civil liberties that you had a good time. . .
Listen to what you are reading. You did read the article right? Now take an hour and read some more. These stories are being created by the hundreds every week. The system is broken. “A huge amount of people were finishing high school” ya because you did their work for sticky buns. Just shut your mouth. I’ve done some time, but I on the other hand live a life that in comparison to being tortured is heavenly. You obviously live a horrible existence on the outside my friend. Just be quiet from now on. We don’t need ex inmates telling people they had a good time in the gov torture chambers. Wow. . . .
You hit the nail right on the head!
The worst thing of prisons in Canada are the fact they are so lenient. They should be a million times stricter! And no shit they ain’t allowed in the open fields there prisoners and for a reason! They don’t deserve special treatments afterll it is suppose to be punishment for wrongful behaviour! and a lot of them should be treated like piece of shit cause they are (depending in the charge obviously) And getting your facts from your bf don’t you think 90% is bullshit lol don’t host a pitty party for your convicted fellony bf!! And the kid story I’m sure there’s lots you don’t know, Canada actually sucks at the being fair and just part … People get it very easy here so I doubt that boy is a tragic story
Dave proving my point quite enjoyable lol
Oh and duh they have harsher punishment until sentenced you don’t know how the detain them yet or there capabilities. Once sentenced you are given privileges based on conviction and behaviour. Oh this guy isn’t sentenced yet so he may not have murdered 20 people so let’s give him a tv and let him have his outdoor time … Please stop acting like there the victims it makes me sick!
This moron is most likely a Maplehurst prison guard!! And I am a victim of a crime and a very well educated person. You obviously have never had any dealings with the Terrorists who claim to be prison guards. It’s disgusting and shameful that you feel any and all inmates should be subjected to such inhumane treatment! Every time I visit to put money in his canteen, I am treated with such disrespect and ignorance. No wonder the inmates have a saying, if you can count to 4, you can be a prison guard. Go bully someone else…coward!!
obviously you have never been in a canadian jail let alone one of our pens, sask. pen and stony moutain are gang runned and will always continue to do so, even in our correctional facilitys we have gangs and violoence not to metin the 16 year old that was murdered by the gurads in a sask. jail, the guy who wrote this article is ajoke and should get his facts straight, and easy, come do 3 years in one of our pens an tell me if how the boys on the inside treat you if its not the gangs its the guards!
Sorry I accidentally replied to this thread when it was meant for another…..
Jerk
It sounds to me N like you don’t know you’re ass from you’re elbow about the prison system in Canada. Not to mention that maybe you do a spell/grammar check before you post anything that makes you look like a closed minded, short tempered and bitter person. God forbid you ever break any laws and have to face time away from your family. I say this because I’m sure that you break laws everyday just as 90% of other judgmental people such as yourself. Even things like speeding, or using your cell phone while you’re driving. What if you were speeding and had an accident and caused someone’s death? Where do you think you would end up. I’ll bet you’d change your tune pretty quickly then. Nothing wakes you up like taking everyday life for granted and wham! Blindsided by something you never would have predicted could have happened to you. Keep your closed minded and negative generalized statements to yourself.
She didn’t refuse medical help, she WAS refused medical. We know she needs to pay for her crimes, and as a citizen, I’d be furious if she didn’t, but her sentence is time, not DEATH. I got her moved to a humane place. It seems Wentworth was the problem. She’s fine now.
And yes the entire jail was on lockdown for weeks at a time, not just my daughter.
Happened to me. Awaiting trial now.
You have no idea what you are talking about. Since half and yeah N ( can’t even put a name to the garbage you just wrote) half the people have yet been convicted I think there is something wrong. People with mental illness and addiction should be punished the same has a rapist. How people like you lump everyone in jail in to one category is so sad. But it explains why Canada has the problems in the jail system because of people and piles of **** like you
I have to agree with N. prisons are not playgrounds, they getter food, shelter, heat, and electricity which is better than a lot of good law abiding citizens out there. I don’t know why your bf is there and I don’t really care, he is there because he did something wrong and illegal. The system is so slack now that one guy I knew said during the late fall it was time to knock out a window so that he could go to jail for the winter and get taken care of. That is the life we live now it is easier to steal than to work. people like you and your bf don’t know what hard work is about not like my parents who had nothing and did everything right to provide for the family. Shame on you for wanting more just for doing less.
What do you know about me to assume I’m not working just as hard as your parents did, “doing everything right”?. Actually I’m in university full time and also working full time, as well as publishing a novel & trying to start a career as a writer… but apparently shame on me for wanting more just for doing less?
I can appreciate your point of view C. But it is unfortunate that you do not have all of your facts correct. I will only share my experiences, as I cannot speak for someone else.
Maplehurst or the Milton Hilton, as the inmates refer to it, is no party or walk in the park. So for your acquaintance to make such an immature comment about breaking a window so he could have a warm bed, leads me to believe, that you socialize with low life’s who are probably immigrants, and are in and out of the system on a regular basis…lifer’s they are referred to as.
My uncle was the Chief of Police in a neighboring city. I share this so you can hopefully understand that I do not have a bias against police. They are necessary to hopefully maintain peace and harmony in the different demographics they police.
Both my husband and myself, are well educated people. We work hard, pay our taxes, are raising two wonderful and accomplished children, and have been together for 15 years. My husband’s crime was becoming an alcoholic when we lost our business. He never drank and drove, he never injured another person. We both volunteer in our community to help the less fortunate. Every year, we sponsor a family at Christmas, so that they too can experience the true meaning of the season. He has been sitting in prison for the past 6 months awaiting trial, only to have the charges dismissed. So, you see, not everyone in there is an animal and not everyone in there is guilty. To have such a closed mind is a shame. Let’s hope you are never charged with a crime you did not commit.
Have a nice day 🙂
Wow your parents are amazing and you’re a very lucky guy to have them! Not everybody gets this chance and sometimes people who have neglectful parents or have other unfortunate things happen to them (or not) end up in prison. I don’t think you can blame a crime by your upbringing, everybody is responsible for their actions and should understand the consequences of their action and pay the price, but I want to live in a society without violence and hatred and I don’t think a severe prison system (like the one in the us) will ever achieve that. The point is to make these people feel responsible for what they did and understand their crime and not to commit these acts again, this starts by humanizing people and not to treat them as garbage no matter what they did. And for all the good law abiding citizens, I totally agree but there’s a lot of people out there who are horrible without even commiting a crime (emotional manipulators, neglectful parents) and their actions have far worse consequences on people mentally (for exeemple fostering ciminal behavior). Anyway, I hope everybody could be more like your parents and work hard, you’re lucky to have such great role models.
I am worried sick about my son who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and because of some previous unsentenced charges he is now in penetang. I do not know if hes ok or are people beating him up or is he getting food I just wanna know hes ok can anyone help
yeah your sons probably getting stomped out and butt fucked
Coward!!!! Anonymous…exactly…no one cares who you are!
Anonymous people are true cowards. Just once I would love to meet one in person.
your a very mean hearted person and may God forgive you this is not why I joined this…
I also have a family member currently in Penetang and am very worried about him…i doubt very much if he is getting beat up, even if he is jail the guys there are still people and are more than likely looking out for him..don’t worry he will be fine..but I know the worrying takes a toll on you
Heartless prick!!
Does know if it’s possible to send money to a prisoner at Bordeaux in Montreal?
I’m not talking about a huge amount – maybe $80 or so to help him out during his 30-day stint.
He took that amount with him as a certified check, and I said I’d send some if I could. One problem is that I’m in the US and hope to do this via credit card or PayPal…..
not sure why a ban on books at Milton. you would think that the books would keep inmates state of mind better by reading educational books. therefore making the corrections officers job easier by not having bored inmates create problems. anyone know why they did the ban recently ?
Books are banned because drugs and weapons are hidden in them.
The very nature of prison is to repay your debt to society (which happens to be paid through incarceration). Stop and listen to yourself. If a member of your family was raped or murdered would you be so quick to claim mistreatment cause they can’t get books or magazines! Call it what it is a shitty situation, but don’t let your personal involvement with an incarcerated individual cloud your judgment. If you choose to publish your thoughts and experiences you should also touch on the more “positive realities”. Truth is that Ontario inmates receive a higher meal allowance then most if not all Ontario seniors living in provincially run nursing homes. Wait lists to see specialists, dentists, and health care professionals are approximately 10 times shorter then for then average Ontarian. Shall I continue? Shall I touch on the fact that the new TsDC is equipped with flat screen LCD tvs on each range and
(In some cases two) that all inmates have access to cable….
First off step up and give a name coward, or get off this sight. This is here to help, not hurt. If you need the latter just let me know! This is the husband! I spent 10 months in the hearst. We call it that because of the amount of fatalities that occur, and the public never finds out about it. I have encountered many a fine family man in there over my period of incarceration. Let me share a story. A mans wife comes to toronto from ukraine. He and their sons, age 5 and 9 are awaiting the moms ok for them to come to canada awaiting visas. She works as a nanny, and he as a mason. He gets the call. He and the kids land in pearson. At customs she is waiting. The kids are allowed through, he is detained. The kids go to the mom and her new boyfriend she had met on line back home. He is arrested for not having a visa. The one she said she had for him. Of course he was a easy shuttle service to get the kids here. He admitted the marriage was not perfect but also shed a lot of tears over this. His english was not good so we communicated through drawings and broken words, along with broken hearts. After 6 months he finally got a lawer and translater. On his way to court, while getting changed in the bullpen, where there are no cameras or security, he was jumped and killed. Fair system, isnt it. If you dont know, keep your mouth shut!
Thank you for sharing this story.
Interesting how you refer to someone who posted as “Anonymous” as a coward, yet you posted under the same name. Pot, meet kettle.
It’s also interesting that you think an individual can be “arrested for not having a visa”. People do not get arrested at CUSTOMS for failing to have a visa. Unless there is a warrant or the man has done something illegal while in Canada, he would merely be denied entry into the country.
In fact, given the ‘story’ of bringing his children to Canada from the Ukraine, (if it were true and not misinterpreted “broken words and drawings”), it’s quite likely that Customs and Immigration would have provided a temporary visa to allow his entry while further investigation was conducted.
There appears to be more to the story than your ‘friend’ was telling you. While it’s very unfortunate that he was apparently “jumped and killed” during his incarceration, if you choose to blame the “system”, you must acknowledge that the inmates are a part of that system also. Telling others with opposing viewpoints to keep their mouths shut serves no purpose in the discussion.
My dads murder got 25 yrs.. out in 15. Ya he got butt fucked?? Who cares??
Tell me why he gets educated for free and I have to pay for my kids college? He got the shrink..I was 18 I didn’t get a shrink..
When he was let out he beat his wife ( who marries a murder?) and I go to his trail (threw victim services) He says the swat team “scared him” Poor boy. My dad probably thought he was joking when he was looking at a shot gun point blank.. Closed casket BTW. I don’t “feel” sorry for him at all.
He was out for 10 years and I hear at trail he broke his parole several times with no consequence until the wife beating. Had plenty of time to get a life.
He got another 3 years .. and as I stated at his trail in a victims statement .he is a waste of my tax paying dollars that could go to feed the poor or old aged people. Why do I have to pay for him??
And NO my father was not a criminal ..he was shot to frame my sister boyfriend to WIN her back?? IDIOT> All he did was ruin my family FOREVER not 10 15 or 20 years FOREVER!!
And remember whether the food is shitty, the clothing dirty, not many hours in the “fresh” air. They are still alive and have these things.. My father does not eat, his clothing has rotted off and I doubt like hell he is breathing under all that dirt!!!!
Patricia, I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t being to imagine the pain of losing a father. I absolutely agree that the person who took your fathers life deserves far worse than the sentence he was handed from the criminal justice system.
I’m sorry that you have interpreted by blog as a claim that all people in prison deserve better than the treatment they experience, because some of them don’t. Some of them deserve far, far, less; the killers, the rapists, the pedophiles.
However, some people in prison, and possibly most people in prison, deserve to be treated with more respect and humanity than they currently are in Canada and most of the Western world. In the same way, the majority of the “true” criminals, walk free while the victimless criminals suffer. Hence my general criticism of the “criminal justice” system.
My husband beat and raped me over many years. I almost died last time. You are telling me these guys have it hard!!?!??
My kids almost lost their mommy.
I hope all the rapists and wife beaters go to hell. Jail is easy compared to lifelong trauma as a victim.
No, I’m not saying that rapists in jail have it harder than they should. I’m saying that “petty” criminals do. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I think that rapists should be brutally tortured and murdered for the crimes that they have committed, not put into a federal prison for a decade or so where they are fed and sheltered and often given privaleges such as television and video games. I think the fuckers should suffer, and then die. Just to be clear.
“Victimless criminals”??? There is NO SUCH THING.
So, in your mind, someone who has….say….defrauded seniors of their life savings should be treated better than a pedophile, or rapist or “killer”?
Just WOW!
No, in that case the seniors would be the victims, so the crime would not be victimless
To me “victimless” is something like numerous public drinking encounters with cops. No one but the drunk hurt. Although, as tax payers we pay for it but we pay for a lot of things that we do not utilize. Such is the privilege of living in Canada.
Patricia, that’s really horrible what happened to your father and especially for what you as his daughter have to go through. I can’t imagine all the pain and anger you feel. But I think as an amazing person and survivor, you deserve the best and not put your energy thinking about this guy, he’ll pay the price for whatever he does in his life and he’s probably rotten inside. These people are manipulators and whatever happens to him shouldn’t be your concern. I send you all the support you need to go thrrough all this trauma. Have a good day.
I was also a battered woman..I feel your pain. I really do..I hope you have become a strong person. It takes time but you can have a wonderful life.Yes these people may have to do time. I agree with you ..the pain some of these criminals cause last FOREVER.Sleep just gives you nightmares and days are just that daze..Good luck to you Mr. Battered Woman may you have a wonderful life now that YOU have been freed.
The only people I have ANY sympathy for in the prison system are those with real mental health issues, as it is not the place for them to receive proper treatment. As for the rest of the criminals who knowingly and willingly break the law…..awe, poor things, they have to get their books from the Canteen and can’t change their shit shorts each day, well…boo hoo!
It seems those complaining are unaware that prison is meant to be either a deterrent or rehabilitation to criminals. Either way, former inmates are NOT supposed to want to return to the system because it’s easier than life outside of it.
Do you whiners ever stop to comprehend the cost these leeches are to society? First, there’s the cost of the crime, then the cost of the trial, the cost of incarceration and the cost of re-integration into society….all at the expense of SOMEONE ELSE…the taxpayer!
While you’re contemplating the incarceration of your dearly beloved and how hard done they are with their free: room and board, medical/dental care, clothing, education, cable and internet, how about contemplating the number of people around the world who had nothing to eat today…..and then give your stupid head a shake!
My boyfriend just got sentenced to 3 years in an Provincial jail here in Quebec. He has been in jail since March 2014, and just got sentenced yesterday. What I am wondering, if anyone can help me here, is if he is already eligible for an early release? I’m not sure on how the criminal system works in this area, and could sure use some info, on how I can help him to get an early release.
I’d recommend to try to find a lawyer who will answer some questions – even if you can’t afford to hire someone you should be able to find someone who will talk with you. I’m more familiar with the legal system in Ontario than Quebec, and I’m not sure about time served prior to sentencing – I think it’s subtracted from the total when the length of time is determined during sentencing? In Ontario you can apply for parole after serving one third of the time.
We did try to get him into a rehabilitation facility, instead of prison, because he has some mental issues, that need to be dealt with. He needs to learn the tools to get his life on track, and to help with him making the right choices. I’ve explained to him that I cannot rescue him, he has to do that for himself, but how the hell can he do it, if he doesn’t know the right tools to do it. He’s a good person, and what pisses me off are people that are quick to judge, he is now doing time for something he did in 2006, so this is eight years ago. I’ve been with him for just over four years, and the man that they were portraying in the court room is not the man I know. We all have past’s, and some of them not pretty, so we learn to deal with them, the healthy way I hope. I would rather pay my hard earned tax paying money, to see my boyfriend and other people in his situation, get the help and the therapy to learn that they don’t have to keep on living the life that they have been, because they don’t know anything different. At least in therapy they can learn that there is a different way to live, and that the choice is theirs to learn the tools, to maintain somewhat of a normal life. I do not want my tax paying dollars to feed and keep these poor souls in the system, when there is an opportunity for them to get better. Yes, there are some people in jail, that do deserve to be there. But the ones that don’t, well I would rather my money help them to become a positive influence in our society.
I will be going to a detention centre in January for 5 weekends. Can anyone give me a website that I can specifically ask questions? ie. can I bring my own underwear?
My brother just got transferred to Lindsay for the rest of his sentence. Can anyone help me- I want to know if there’s a way I can see the exact Canteen List used at Lindsay. I asked the receptionist there and she didn’t have one, said she thought only the inmates can see it. I’m thinking there must be a list online somewhere with the brands/items available.
No, your brother will tell you!
I was in a physical altercation with my then boyfriend who then had a drinking problem. Police were called and they took us both away. It was thanksgiving weekend so he was held at the county bucket and I was taken to Vanier awaiting a bail hearing. I was then in my late 30’s, never in trouble (ever) with 5 kids visiting my ex that weekend.
Let’s just say I was horrified! I was repeatedly asking for medical attention as my knee could visually be seen as swollen as a result of the altercation and I could barely walk. I have a heart condition, blood disorder, asthma and was in unreal pain and had no access to my medication or medical care regardless of my constant request to see anyone in the medical field for the entire time I was in custody. The person who strip searched me was horrified at the bruising, marks on my body but did nothing to help me and I was yelled at to “hurry up” as I limped lastly behind the others to our cell assignments. I was placed in a one bed cell with a woman who thankfully was nice and said she would sleep on the floor so I could have the bed seeing how badly beaten I was. The only meal I recieved there was cold and food I wouldn’t serve to my dog. Meanwhile he’s back at county bucket getting food served to him from local restaurants.
To this day I am scared by my overnight experience at Vanier and still cry. The only good thing that did come from it was him realizing him finding what he did, what I went through, how much he hurt me and how much he loved me. He quit drinking altogether, proposed and we have been happily married with 6 grown kids and 6 grandchildren. But seriously, how do they get away with the inhuman treatment of woman who end up being found innocent and have their case thrown out of the courts. Looking back with all my health problems something really bad could have happened to me while I was there. I have had two knee surgeries as a result of my knee injury from that assault.
I was wondering if I would b able to make a money order for cantine to Bordeaux??
And if id b able to send brand new clothes and such by mail.
And if id b able to send brand new clothes and such by mail??
It was interesting to read all the comments about our criminal justice system. Granted I’m still on trail for my doom and gloom but I wanted to share a few things.
I have a choice between a federal or provincial court (Saskatoon) so not sure what is worse depending on how far I want to take the case.
It is interesting to hear I can serve 1/3 of my sentence and the last 2/3 will be on parole. Apparently my time is at least 15 months and I doubt a conditional sentence will be possible.
I will be filling this space again in the future after my release to tell the tale.
I’m sure jail game will be something I can look forward to (sarcastically) as I’m sure the bureaucracy of survival and making the right friends will be crucial. I just hope to live so I can see my son again when I get out.
My daughter is going to serve a year at a provincial jail after 8 months in Wentworth Detention Centre in Hamilton. Her time there has been very troublesome. She’s been beat up twice, has endured bedsores from long stints of lockdown, refused clean clothes for a week by an angry power-tripping guard and worst of all, refused medical help for some serious conditions, including the bed sores. She hasn’t menstruated for 8 months and the only medical assistance she’s received concerning it is a pregnancy test which turned out negative. She finally got a date to leave this horror hotel and now the power-tripping guard is threatening her that if she gets a misdemeanor, she won’t get out on her date. She is staying in her cell willingly and refusing to speak to anyone because she is so afraid. She calls me every night and that is her only reason to go on. I don’t know what to do.
Christine, you cannot expect people to take responsibility for their actions (guards) and not let your daughter take hers. Did she do something to deserve this lockdown? And why did she refuse medical help for her bedsores or clean clothes? Whatever your daughter did, to end up in prison or get the lockdown is sad and terrible but you have to ask yourself why she put herself in this situation in the first place. I hope everything will work up well for her and that she will gain confidence by taking responsibility for herself and her actions.
The guards there and at other facilities treat the women like animals, yes yes, I know there are some people that feel everyone in there deserves to be treated like an animal. The guards there do often threaten girls and try to intimidate them into respecting them rather than just being human and gaining respect. I heard many threats to women about not getting out or transferred if they didn’t “behave”. With regards to medical care, as I loosely refer to it..you have to try to get a guards attention (good luck I watched many women standing in front of the guard station to just ask a simple question and be ignored or just yelled at to go away) to get a request for medical care form and then drop it in the box and maybe if you’re lucky it will actually make it to the right department and you might get the sheet back with and appointment time. I was there and I witnessed many sheets getting submitted and very very few ever coming back.
Now, as for lockdown times. It may not have had anything to do with her daughter. When a jail is on lockdown it is the whole facility not just one person in her cell and lockdown can go on for days, not just hours. So all you have to do is walk in a small circle inside your cell that is no larger than 9X9.
Now in saying all of that. Not all guards are terrible people. There are a small number and I mean small that do actually care about their jobs and do listen.
The saddest thing I observed in the facility I was in was that I would guess probably 80% if not more than that of inmates have some form of mental disorder and their thrown in there and forgotten about instead of getting the appropriate help for their issues.
I could say a lot more but I wish that everyone could just spend one night in one of these facilities and see what it is really like before they make comments or judgments about the people who have to be there for whatever reason.
he didn’t refuse medical help, she WAS refused medical. We know she needs to pay for her crimes, and as a citizen, I’d be furious if she didn’t, but her sentence is time in jail, not DEATH. I got her moved to a humane place. It seems Wentworth was the problem. She’s fine now.
And yes all the girls were locked down for weeks at a time, not just her.
my boyfriend is in maplehurst and we are not allowed contact….if i send him a letter will they know its me? do they read everything?
can anyone get him to call me
Is the any way an inmate can be transferred to a more human facility, like South Toronto Jail?
My loved one is there and he’s telling me the conditions are inhuman.
He will be there for 6 months, it’s been already 3 days and feeling very depressed due to the conditions.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
So my love is in maple hurst and they have been in lockdown for one whole week. He has mental health issues, as 100% of these men do. They can’t be treated like this ..way is murder a murder because they have issues and they are in and out of jails and more and more mentally emotionally abuse trying to find out way they are so mad get out of jail someone hurts them or they think that person is and blacks out kills the other person it’s not right to kill someone not at all but it’s not far not to help the sick and I have huge mental heath problems too and I can say is the only way to help are loved ones is to force them to help them in jail to see. A shrink and must be up and showered and programing in jail to teach them to have patients show there emotions and any other self-esteem issues they many have how to respect not cling ont gangs be respectful not mean I hate being hurt I bet you all do so why hurt them races intergrade them if they put the time into these men and care it was your favorite person in the world why would you not help them right well this is it … If something is not done fast then a man or woman can end up dead or killing someone I don’t want that I also thinking the PEN has better chances OF being empty.. jail should be to help a trouble soul not wounded it and treat like dog people worse .. I have been pumped out beaten and raped hooked on drugs and I have never been to jail but I should have many times I will say this if I where to be caged up for that amount of time I would Fucking kill someone… please think of it like this …. Your in Wal-Mart your hungry and had no money have no job and no family no friends you have been fucked over by family friends and everyone else that you thought you could trust so you have no choice but to steal food your starving so you grab a Apple you get cought and you go to jail and what is it a roof food and alone thoughts and nothing more so you feel even more depressed and angry right bame straight .. so you get out of jail week letter your still in the same situation as when you stole that Apple so you have to do it again and it’s a pattern but then your depression is getting so bad you very angry and you decide that the world is hurting you and you put up a wall and that pattten is getting longer and longer an one day you have been hurt so Fucking bad and you block your emotions so you can’t get hurt … it’s what the world has tought us right bottle it up okay that Fucking works not if that was you even feel hurt you just all of a sudden killed someone because your so Fucking hurt please hear me out I don’t agree with murder but I also don’t agree with not getting help when that’s clearly what woman and men need when their in jail and the worst part is Who has the Fucking right to hurt NO ONE and yes I agree with jail but not this jail I feel like tax payers money is being flushed make jail a boot camp for your emotions and learn to cope with hurt anger and respect everyone is loving and kind but we as people hurt people more then others and I think spending ‘re breaking them walls down will work and their is more helping people nursing jobs council police guards addiction workers all sorts of good jobs I am 30 years old have no one but my love in jail and I feel so angry for him because his hole life he was hurt by everyone including the government fucking Wrong everyone is nice why not all be. Nice I understand my spelling is terrible I raised my self while my parents where. Busy I am grade 8 dropout and have bipolar with skitso effects I have had a shitty life not by my choice by the way people picked on me from the time I was 4 years old being told I’m stupid ugly dumb where was my help none lets help these men and woman not treat them like there anywosre then us everyone hurts everyone needs help how’s does it feel to be hurt it sucks and it’s hard to forget so please not judge people help them …. I am soory please direct me to someone that I can express this to please …….I want to help them not damage them more Maybe as a vontry we can stop this visiuse pattern MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!.
So my love is in maple hurst and they have been in lockdown for one whole week. He has mental health issues, as 100% of these men do. They can’t be treated like this ..way is murder a murder because they have issues and they are in and out of jails and more and more mentally emotionally abuse trying to find out way they are so mad get out of jail someone hurts them or they think that person is and blacks out kills the other person it’s not right to kill someone not at all but it’s not far not to help the sick and I have huge mental heath problems too and I can say is the only way to help are loved ones is to force them to help them in jail to see. A shrink and must be up and showered and programing in jail to teach them to have patients show there emotions and any other self-esteem issues they many have how to respect not cling ont gangs be respectful not mean I hate being hurt I bet you all do so why hurt them races intergrade them if they put the time into these men and care it was your favorite person in the world why would you not help them right well this is it … If something is not done fast then a man or woman can end up dead or killing someone I don’t want that I also thinking the PEN has better chances OF being empty.. jail should be to help a trouble soul not wounded it and treat like dog people worse .. I have been pumped out beaten and raped hooked on drugs and I have never been to jail but I should have many times I will say this if I where to be caged up for that amount of time I would Fucking kill someone… please think of it like this …. Your in Wal-Mart your hungry and had no money have no job and no family no friends you have been fucked over by family friends and everyone else that you thought you could trust so you have no choice but to steal food your starving so you grab a Apple you get cought and you go to jail and what is it a roof food and alone thoughts and nothing more so you feel even more depressed and angry right bame straight .. so you get out of jail week letter your still in the same situation as when you stole that Apple so you have to do it again and it’s a pattern but then your depression is getting so bad you very angry and you decide that the world is hurting you and you put up a wall and that pattten is getting longer and longer an one day you have been hurt so Fucking bad and you block your emotions so you can’t get hurt … it’s what the world has tought us right bottle it up okay that Fucking works not if that was you even feel hurt you just all of a sudden killed someone because your so Fucking hurt please hear me out I don’t agree with murder but I also don’t agree with not getting help when that’s clearly what woman and men need when their in jail and the worst part is Who has the Fucking right to hurt NO ONE and yes I agree with jail but not this jail I feel like tax payers money is being flushed make jail a boot camp for your emotions and learn to cope with hurt anger and respect everyone is loving and kind but we as people hurt people more then others and I think spending ‘re breaking them walls down will work and their is more helping people nursing jobs council police guards addiction workers all sorts of good jobs I am 30 years old have no one but my love in jail and I feel so angry for him because his hole life he was hurt by everyone including the government fucking Wrong everyone is nice why not all be. Nice I understand my spelling is terrible I raised my self while my parents where. Busy I am grade 8 dropout and have bipolar with skitso effects I have had a shitty life not by my choice by the way people picked on me from the time I was 4 years old being told I’m stupid ugly dumb where was my help none lets help these men and woman not treat them like there anywosre then us everyone hurts everyone needs help how’s does it feel to be hurt it sucks and it’s hard to forget so please not judge people help them …. I am soory please direct me to someone that I can express this to please …….I want to help them not damage them more Maybe as a vontry we can stop this visiuse pattern MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!.
Please search Canadian Prison Wives on Facebook and join our group. We are a support system and offer many great resources 🙂
I’m suppose to do Federal time on March 22nd, but I have just recently broken my foot and not allowed to put any weight on it for up to 10 weeks. I’m concerned that they will still send me despite my injury which may require surgery or at the very least physiotherapy and once inside foot will not heal properly without treatment. Any thoughts?
I have just been reading all the comments , and when it comes to the real scumbags (murderer’s, rapists, child molesters) I feel there is not any amount of time that is good enough for them ,they should never see the light of day. So for the close minded idiots that left there stupid comments , they are right in the case of the three titles I just mentioned, but as for any thing else they said , they just sound like close minded morons rednicks that think the life they are living is the way all people should live. One thing I have come to learn is people who judge are usually the people with many skeletons in there closet. The reason for there attitude is just one way of making them selves feel like there perfect and can do no wrong. You have to be a complete idiot to believe that are system is not corrupt, the police now a days are more corrupt then ever. From planting evidence to making up false charges , just so they can justify there yearly wages to the public. More cops then ever are being caught doing so, maybe if you rednecks and perfect people out there with your hero attitudes would take the time to discover the truth ,maybe then you could make some intelligent comments.
There are a lot of people in prison today for doing very little in the way of crime, and those particular people don’t deserve the treatment they get.
I will bet any money that 90% of you idiots making these comments about how everyone in jail are bad people, drink alcohol. So then let’s say a drunk driver kills my son or daughter, and then only gets 3 to 10 years in prison , I never here anyone commenting on how evil those people are, but yet some is committing a crime where money is involved , let’s give them 20 years in prison. In Canada , murder or rape seem to bring a less of sentence. Our very government is the main problem to all the correctional system. From the government to the judges to the lawyers and finally the police , they seem to be above the law and get away with crimes every day . They might take a closers look into the prisons if they had to spend some time there themselves.
You absolutely should not have to be in prison for lesser crimes then murder or rape and so on, when awaiting trial ,especially in prisons of this nature.
And then a person with his charges being dropped, where is the compensation for this person that has been in the prison for any amount of time. Total bullshit and maybe this would change if some higher up citizens would to some time.
Now getting back to the way people are treated in prisons is sad, you judgemental people out there don’t realize that there are a lot of assholes that pretend to be a perfect role model , when there nothing but close minded assholes. There is no such thing as rehabilitation any more ,does this not worry even the close minded dicks out there most all are getting out of jail some day ,do you want them even more angry and bitter.
People make mistakes assume long as it hasn’t taken a life or caused trauma for life ,they do deserve a second chance, and a lot that is fortunate to get this chance take it and never look back. The one comment I really believe some made in this article was that there are people out there that are ten times the assholes then people in prison.Until you know there story , if you cannot be open minded then just shut up. That comment is so true, I personally find that those close minded people are the most insecure people going and by putting other people down they think that it makes them feel better about themselves.
Nobody wants to help anymore, they just want to push people down further.
I will just say this if I were to be in a situation where I feel on hard times like a lot of people are and I was going to loose my house ,where my children called home I would likely do any thing but murder or anything that would take a life , but I would do anything to keep my children’s home for them. Let’s say I have always been a good citizen and never did anything illegal in my life , but now I get caught doing what is was I was doing to make money . That doesn’t make me a scumbag, that just makes me a person who was put into a situation in which I made the wrong choice on how to get out of it.
So getting back to the prisons , you idiot close minded heroes need to rethink your attitudes , for a very good reason and that reason is this or that could be you one day and don’t ever think it couldn’t be.
People for the most part do not deserve to be treated like shot in prison , not all crimes are created equally and so says that not all should be lumped into the same category.
Sorry about rambling on but close minded idiots do this to me,
So to all the people out there that like to drink , I think you are the biggest dirt bags going just because someone has lost someone or more to a drunk driver or to violence do to drinking. People will never attack there own vice.
For all you people out there with loved ones in prison the best thing you can do is support them , show them love and make them see that things will be better in the future for them .
Thanks
thanks for taking the time to write that Jeff, you are right about people deserving a second chance and should not be bitter and angry when they leave prison. Granted I’m waiting for my trial to begin, but I’m pretty much what you are describing. I can only hope there is some learning on this journey.
I am not sure your situation, but I truly believe that most crimes committed by first timers, is that they learn there lesson,and they truly are remorseful. It does not do society any good to throw family people in jail.I think community service is the best way to let someone work off there penalty. Best of luck. P.S our government shutdown all the municipal jails which tells me that rehabilitation is no longer in place.At least you could work TPA,which keeping your job made all the difference in the world. Bottom line no body gives a shit anymore, and that will come back to haunt us someday. Jeff
Sent from my Galaxy Tab® S2
This is the biggest load of shit I’ve ever read. I really hope no one buys this bullshit. NO ONE GETS RAPED IN JAIL? Are u fucking kidding me?!?! Why cuz Canadian jails are “nicer” and homophobic. BULLSHIT. My brother went to jail as an older teen sentenced as an adult he was RAPED in jail then later commuted suicide because of it. So go fuck yourself and stop speaking for inmates when you obviously have no fucking clue as to what your talking about!!!
No one gets raped in maple Hurst but the guards want it to happen just got out and all they did was watch me fight my cell mate and do nothing. ..
The maple hurst police that take you to weird areas and talk about killing you to do another job I have evidence so stupid to leave you to leave u with ur mom by my self…. recorderd everything. …have fun u two boys
I’ll get u guys a mall cop job after my lawyer peter derry reviews ur empty DVD no more smoking Crack and weed and watching porn on ur cell phones and watching inmates fights….I’m not backin down on this case
yrawbyv
I’m suppose to go away to Regina for april 21st in a correctional facility… I will post my experiences here when I get out within a year of time
Well I hate to burst ur bubble on the unknown facts that there is no skinning in the provincial system(rape) hamilton Wentworth is one of the largest shit holes in the system. Dirty allways on random lock dwn for mysterious weapon searches . Staff wanting danger pay. I was admitted with medical records and placed in a range where I had no chance of defending myself with my spinal disability twice and spending a month and a half on a mat maybe 2inches thick on the floor 3 person to cell with severe arthritis throughout body degenerative disc deasise and moderate nerve damage inches from the toilet eating my meals, human ???? Counted like diamonds, stacked like shit!
Are “weekenders” on 90 day sentences at the Toronto Detention center safer than more long term sentences that are not “weekenders”? Just wondering