To About Time,
I have been in the system a long time. I believe that we as prisoners should be heard a lot more.
I’ve written to nearly everyone available to us on the confidential mail envelopes with my idea that I believe will reduce drugs through the prison system and also reduce violence.
If we had the opportunity to get two months off every 12 months of our sentences for good behaviour, with the condition of being completely drug free with no instigation of violence at all, believe me, every single person will reconsider misbehaving and getting high.
But the decision is left to the prison officers who have daily interactions with us to decide. I don’t believe a prisoner review board who know us merely by our past behaviour is sufficient.
The only response I’ve gotten from my letters with this idea is that it would require legislative changes and not even the Minister for Corrective Services could give me someone to write to to change legislations. Hopefully you can help.
Thank you
To About Time,
I have been in the system a long time. I believe that we as prisoners should be heard a lot more.
I’ve written to nearly everyone available to us on the confidential mail envelopes with my idea that I believe will reduce drugs through the prison system and also reduce violence.
If we had the opportunity to get two months off every 12 months of our sentences for good behaviour, with the condition of being completely drug free with no instigation of violence at all, believe me, every single person will reconsider misbehaving and getting high.
But the decision is left to the prison officers who have daily interactions with us to decide. I don’t believe a prisoner review board who know us merely by our past behaviour is sufficient.
The only response I’ve gotten from my letters with this idea is that it would require legislative changes and not even the Minister for Corrective Services could give me someone to write to to change legislations. Hopefully you can help.
Thank you
Thank you for your letter Melissa. We commend you on your persistent advocacy for people in prison, and I’m sorry it’s such a hard slog. Legislative changes means making new laws through the political process. You can try reaching out to your local Member of Parliament to share your story and ideas? Political changes like this can take a very long time and requires persistence advocacy from people like yourself – don’t be deterred!
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Here at MCC we are limited to weight bags and medicine balls. We cannot purchase creatine or protein powders, training gloves or any other essential items that other prisoners at other centres can purchase.
I just want to get back to my home state WA so I can do my time with my family support where I’m happy and have all my supports.
Buddhism teaches that pain is a part of being human, not a failure. Thoughts are not who you are, change is always possible because nothing is permanent. There is beauty in the idea that peace isn’t something you chase, it’s something you uncover when you stop clinging.
I hope this gets sorted as I’m currently eligible for parole in 2027 and fear I won’t get the help or programmes in time.
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