Who cares for the prisoners?

Well the same things keep happening over and over again. To my followers who say they are tired of hearing about Derik and the things he has to go through, I say listen and learn. There are many things in Canada's prison system that need changing.

Derik has finally completed the first year carpentry training that he transferred to William Head prison to take. It took 8 months to get into the program because his Internal Parole Officer had decided that 16 years was not enough punishment for him. She said he could not get anything from her at all. And to think that all he wanted to do was to get a trade in order to perhaps support a family should he ever get out of that terrible place.

Canadian Correctional Services calls the time spent in those jails rehabilitation time. Not much actual rehabilitation takes place from the service end of things. Rehabilitation occurs when the prisoners themselves decide they want another attempt at a real life. See a few of my earlier posts for more on this topic.

Derik has been trying to do several things while in those institutions. He has been trying to prove his innocence of the crime. So far, nothing has come from that, but the UBC Law School students are still working on it.

He has been trying to stay away from the very large drug culture inside those institutions. So far, he has been successful at that. He has even been able to help a couple of others stop the horrible circle of getting high, scoring another hit and getting high. It is a tough road. Drugs are much more easily obtainable inside than on the street. They are also a lot cheaper. The institutions don't appear to be able to stop the inflow. They only check visitors, not staff. Way more comes in through staff than through visitors. Even the prisons on lockdown don't have a shortage of drugs with no visitors coming in at all.

He has been trying to obtain some sort of training that he can use to find work if he is ever released. To that end, it took him nearly 5 years to get some cooperation from the officials in charge to get his first year apprenticeship for carpentry. Now he is employable. He has a Framer's ticket, a forklift ticket, and experience with concrete foundations. He has installed and removed windows and doors and done some roofing.

He has been trying to obtain escorted passes outside of the institution. He wants to visit his neice and nephew in their own home, not in a prison. He wants to get a job and earn some money so he can get out of prison and have a place to go. He wants to get passes to take more courses towards his carpentry. Now that he has finally been able to obtain some education towards that end, his Internal Parole Officer, who did not support him for the course, is refusing to support him for any sort of passes, work release, education, or transfer to another institution for at least another 2 years.

Why? 19 years is still not long enough punishment. His crime? He refuses to admit guilt and confess to something that he did not do. He was not there. He has support from other guards, other parole officers, other staff, but without the ok of this particular bitch, he cannot do anything or go anywhere. His sentence was for 10 years until parole eligibility. Many people outside the system think that means he would serve 10 years and be out. Boy are they wrong!! That is not how it works for those who disagree with something. Derik will not confess to something he is innocent of, so he remains.

Please help by writing to the Minister of Public Safety in our federal government to urge prison reform. Training and release is their mandate, but it is not what they are doing.

Minister of Public Safety,
Parliament Buildings,
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada K1A 0P9

For more of Derik's story, check out http://www.canadianinjustice.com

or contact me
Elouise
skype: coach_elouise
email: lordelouise@gmail.com