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WHO WE ARE … d) PASAN also provides ongoing support, net- b) PASAN produces a quarterly bulletin en- working, resources and training for AIDS Ser- titled CELL COUNT. This unique publication, PASAN is a community-based AIDS Service vices Organizations (ASOs) and other commu- which is written and edited primarily by Organization that strives to provide commu- nity groups across Ontario. We assist ASOs to prisoners and ex-prisoners themselves, is nity development, education and support to set up their own prison outreach and support the only newsletter in Canada providing an prisoners and ex-prisoners in Ontario on HIV/ projects, and act as a referral "hub" for HIV uncensored forum for prisoners and youth AIDS, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other harm positive prisoners and youth in custody who in custody to explore and share their own reduction issues. are transferred from one region to another, experiences, ideas, and fears about HIV/ PASAN formed in 1991 as a grassroots re- thereby helping to ensure a continuity of sup- AIDS. PASAN distributes 6,800 issues a sponse to HIV /AIDS in the Canadian prison port. year to prisoners, institutions, and agencies system. across the country. CELL COUNT is free for Today, PASAN is the only community-based II. OUTREACH & EDUCATION prisoners and people living with HIV/AIDS organization in Canada exclusively providing in Canada. HIV/AIDS and HCV prevention education and c) PASAN is also available to conduct free a) PASAN conducts HIV prevention education support services to prisoners, ex-prisoners, organizational and staff training for agencies youth in custody and their families. programs in many adult and youth institutions and institutions working with prison-affected, in the southern Ontario region. An integral and drug using populations. We have experi- part of this program is our Peer Educators' ence in conducting training not only for com- WHAT WE DO … Group, which is made up entirely of ex- munity workers and ASO staff, but also for prisoners living with HIV/AIDS. Peer speakers probation/parole officers, youth custody staff, 1. SUPPORT SERVICES accompany PASAN staff for educationals in prison social workers and case management prisons, youth facilities, and other institutions. officers. PASAN offers support services to prisoners, We have found that our Peers are often best youth in custody and their families, as well as able to get across HIV/AIDS information in III. STRATEGIES to other organizations working on HIV/AIDS these settings.

and/or prison issues. These services include: Since our beginnings in 1991, PASAN has al- a) Individual support counselling, case manage- ways maintained a focus on systemic issues of ment, pre-release planning and referrals for HIV/AIDS and prisons. Our work is based in prisoners and youth in custody living with HIV/ a recognition and defense of the fundamental AIDS, primarily in Ontario region institutions. human rights of prisoners, and our perspec- We can assist our clients in accessing proper tive derives from PASAN's brief entitled HIV/ medical care and support while incarcerated, AIDS in Prison Systems: A Comprehensive Strat- as well as help to arrange housing and medical/ egy (June 1992). This document, which out- social support upon release. Much of this sup- lined 40 recommendations for implementing port is coordinated via telephone through a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy in the collect calls, although we also do in-person Canadian prison system, served as the impe- support whenever possible. To date, PASAN tus and the basis for the report by the federal has worked with more than 400 HIV positive government's Expert Committee on AIDS in prisoners and youth in custody in over 30 Prisons (ECAP) in February 1994. different institutions (both federal and provin- In June 1996, PASAN released the follow-up cial) in six different provinces. document HIV/AIDS in Youth Custody Settings: b) The only National AIDS Hotline specifically A Comprehensive Strategy which specifically for prisoners. We accept collect calls from addressed the needs of youth in custody. In prisoners across Canada at 416-920-9567 and May 1999, PASAN released a new document can help you with your questions about HIV/ on male-to-female transsexual/transgendered AIDS, and help you get the support you need. prisoners and HIV/AIDS. c) An emergency financial assistance fund PASAN organized the First National Workshop which provides limited financial support for on HIV/AIDS in Prison (Kingston, 1995). both provincial and federal prisoners and PASAN has made presentations on HIV/AIDS youth in custody living with HIV/AIDS. We can in prisons at the XI International Conference on help with things like replacement fees for birth AIDS in Vancouver (July 1996) and has ap- certificates, S.I.N. cards and other necessary peared before the Parliamentary Subcommittee ID and we have a small fund to help people on AIDS in Ottawa (Nov 1996) and the Presi- newly released from prison. The availability of dential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in Wash- these funds vary, and we require proof of HIV ington, DC (June 1998) and the Canadian Hu- status for people accessing the fund. man Rights Commission (Oct. 2001)

2 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT - OUTREACH & SUPPORT SCHEDULE - - INSIDE THIS ISSUE -

IMPORTANT: Programs run on one Unit only per month. If you want to see a worker or PASAN Services/Schedule …………....….. 2-3 attend a program put in a request to the Volunteer Coordinator or the Social Work Dept. Bulletin Board ……...…………..……...... … 4

PROVINCIAL (ON) Men: News on the Block ….....………..……… 5-13

CECC – Look for sign-up sheet or put in a request to the Social Work Dept Poems .…...………………….………… 14-15 CNCC – Groups/ 1on1: Sign-up sheet, request to the Social Work Dept, call PASAN

DON JAIL – The 2nd Wednesday of each month from 3:00-4:30 Health & Harm Reduction ………..…... 16-18 HWDC – 1on1 support - call PASAN MAPLEHURST – Groups: 1st Tuesday monthly; 1on1: call PASAN THE EAST – Groups/ 1on1: run twice a month - call for a program on your unit PenPals ……………………....……………. 19 THE WEST – Groups/ 1on1: run twice a month - call for a program on your unit Women: Resources ……………………....………… 20 CNCC – Every 3rd Fri of the month. Look for sign-up sheet VCW – 2nd Tues (Gen Pop) & last Wed (Max) of each month - ABOUT CELL COUNT - FEDERAL (ON) Men: PASAN publishes ‘Cell Count’, 4 Issues per year. We try to visit each prison at least 3 times a year. We visit: Kingston Pen, Warkworth, It is sent out for FREE to Clients & Prisoners. Collins Bay, Bath, Frontenac, Millhaven, Fenbrook, Beavercreek and Pittsburgh. If you are on the outside or part of an organization, We see people individually or in group settings and talk about HIV/AIDS, Hep C, Harm please consider a subscription @ $15 per year. Reduction and Health Promotion. If you wish to know more or have HIV please contact

us to find out when we will be at your institution. Publisher: PASAN Women: 314 Jarvis St, #100, Toronto, ON, M5B 2C5 GVI – Call PASAN Editor: Tom Jackson Circulation: 1,700+ ~ Recirculation: ?,???,??? YOUTH (GTA) We visit different youth facilities, group homes, etc. throughout the City of Toronto on a All original artwork, poems & writings are the regular basis. For more info call Trevor or Joan. sole property of the artist & author. ______Fair Dealing & the Canadian Copyright Act: FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS Section 29.1: “Fair dealing for the purpose of criti- CALL PASAN COLLECT AT: 416-920-9567 cism or review does not infringe copyright” ______Section 29.2: “Fair dealing for the purpose of news reporting does not infringe copyright”

- HIV+ CLIENT SERVICES - - ARTISTS IN THIS ISSUE -

In order to be a client & access these services you need to have confirmed HIV+ status. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♦ PHONE HOURS - Mon - Fri from 9-5, except Tuesday mornings Cover: Shawn Pegg

♦ DROP-IN - Mondays 1:30-3:30 (except holidays) Good food & 2 TTC tokens ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♦ NURSE - 1st & last Monday 1:30-3:30 every month

♦ ID CLINIC - 1st & 3rd Thursday 10:30-11:30 every month

♦ RELEASE FUNDS - $50 (twice a year max.)

TTC TOKENS - 3 per week Mon @ 10, or Tues @ 1:30 if Mon is a holiday ♦

♦ HARM REDUCTION MATERIALS - Mon - Fri from 9-5, except Tuesday AM

(Safer-Crack-Use-Kits, Safer-Needle-Use-Kits, Piercing Needles, Condoms, etc…) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sometime s we and the phones are very busy so … please keep trying !!!

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 3 - EDITOR’S NOTE - - DROP-IN - - NURSE -

The ‘Winter Issue - #68’ of PASAN CLIENTS A Nurse at PASAN! Cell Count was banned from On the 1st & last Monday of every month 10 buckets/joints in Canada. Mondays 1:30 - 3:30 1:30 - 3:30 ‘Public Health Info’ & See you then! • Information and education regarding: ‘Freedom of Speech’ are still: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Medications ‘Not Respected in Canada’! - Nutrition PenPals: Pls write ONLY to - FAMILY VISITATION - - Community Health Resources ads in the most recent issue, most of the older ads - HIV/AIDS understanding aren’t there. All undeliverable mail is destroyed. F.E.A.T. for Children of Incarcerated Parents was - Complications to HIV/AIDS Sorry folks, but this PenPal system is going through founded in 2011 to support the needs of the over (i.e. Opportunistic Infections) some changes. About 200 penpal ads come in for 15000 children in the Greater Toronto Area that each issue & there’s only space for 60. So it’s the have a parent in the criminal justice system. • Assessments of emerging health issues ‘Grab-One-Outta-The-Big-Bag’ method now. If your • Management of existing medical conditions or ad ain’t in this one, send again for the next Issue. The Family Visitation Program follow up(s) It’s very difficult doing all this on 3 hrs a day, so pls Would you like to visit a family member in prison? respect, keep the calls short, 1-4 pm, no Voicemail. • Communication with community/ institutional F.E.A.T’s Family Visitation Program provides trans- health care providers for access, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ portation on weekends for you and an adult to To clarify or communicate health information correctional facilities in Southern Ontario. During • - MOVING ? - and to advocate for health service provisions the trip, you will be able to talk to friends and men- tors, play games and watch movies. Youth under • Communicating findings and follow-up plans We get about 75 Cell Counts sent back to us each 18 can visit their fam ily member for free! If you and accountabilities with PHAs and PASAN mail-out labelled ‘No Longer Here’. are interested in participating in the program, primary workers (or delegates) Please help us reduce our mailing expenses by please call or email F.E.A.T. to register today! letting us know of any address change, ASAP! ~ Please Sign Up at the Front Desk ~ So, before you call your mom - let us know! For more information or registration please contact ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jessica or Derek Reid by email at: - ID CLINIC - - WORKLOAD - [email protected] or 416-505-5333 The Partners for Access and Identification (PAID) PASAN has been around for 21 years now and over - CONTACT NUMBERS - project opens doors and breaks down barriers for the years our client population has increased dra- individuals who do not have a fixed or permanent matically. If you are in any Federal Inst - call us address. As a result of this increase in workload, clients may Toll Free: 1-866-224-9978 not be able to spend as much time on the tele- The ID Clinics are held at PASAN on the phone with staff as we would like. The staff and If you are in any Provincial Inst - call us 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month volunteers are dedicated and committed and will Collect: 416-920-9567 10:30 - 11:30 continue to provide the best care possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for your patience and understanding! We begin by helping individuals obtain vital identifi- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - CELL COUNT SUBS - cation such as:

- ARTISTS & WRITERS - • Ontario Photo Health Card SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS: • Canadian Birth Certificate Let us know if you would like your work re- • Record of Landing turned to you or sent on to someone else! Over the past 10 years our subscription list has grown from 700 to 1700 and all costs have more • Social Insurance Number Artists: This publication is photocopied. That than doubled during this period. means B&W 'high-contrast printing'. Tonal pencil The project operates at various sites across the city sketches get blown-away (don’t expect good re- We receive less than 30 subscriptions for ‘Cell of Toronto. The PAID Project also connects individu- sults). Black ballpoint or felt-tip penwork (tat-style) Count’ from organizations Canada-wide so we als and families to other services, such as: reproduces quite well. Try to work on paper with have pared-down our mailing list so we can get no lines & nothing on the backside (it shows more copies inside where they are much needed. • Primary health care facilities through and degrades the image). • Sources for housing Consider the final print size: column width is 2.5, 5 Cell Count is posted in PDF format @ pasan.org • Sources for food or 7.5”. Cover Art should be about 7”x 7". Artwork as a FREE download for viewing/printing. We urge • Legal Aid that is being reduced loses a lot of detail. Artwork you to help us out by using this method if you do cannot be enlarged (it gets really fuzzy & ugly). not wish to support with a subscription. We also provide guidance and awareness regarding Cover Art should NOT have the Issue # on it be- other programs that are available, including com- cause if it is not used for that Issue, it would be If your org has paid for a sub - don’t worry, you’re munity-based support services. really nice to use it on a future Issue! for sure on our mailing list! Oh yeah ... Thanks! Writers: We get a lot of great work sent in that For more information, please call: we are unable to use because of very limited space. Neighbourhood Link Support Services at Apologies. Please consider the column width & 416-691-7407 keep articles/ poems tight & to the point. Honestly, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the first items to go in are the ones that fit nicely & leave space for others - quality & quantity!

4 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT Stonewalling Our 'Right of Access' It is clear that CSC is still depriving us of the oppor- - NEWS ON THE BLOCK - tunity to adequately state our cases to the Decision I am writing to ask you to forward my letter to maker and continues to breach the 'Duty to Act Grievance Procedure Challenge: Victory! Jason Lewis, who won a Federal Court action vs Fairly'. Breach of ‘Duty to Act Fairly’ Assistant Commissioner Ian McCowan regarding the Grievance process in Case T-241-10. Anonymous, ON, 2013 I have recently won a case in the Federal Court of I've been citing his case and the Authorities referred ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Canada against CSC and the Attorney General of to by the Judge who ruled in Mr Lewis' favour in a BC Pretrial, DO/LTO Canada relating to the Offender Grievance Proce- number of Grievances and Claims against CSC, dure. I did so on my own, without a lawyer and however they're stonewalling about our 'Right of I’m writing this short note about BC Seg Units in from my weekly pay from CSC. The precedent my Access' to the Analyst's Executive Summary prior to the North Fraser Pretrial Center. They have double- case sets needs to be published for all inmates to the Decision at each step of the process. bunked camera cells, cold food, regular excessive know and aid in strengthening our ability as in- Of course once these cases reach Federal Court, force beatings and cut out all canteen purchases. mates to benefit from such victories and force CSC CSC's refusal may be criticized by the Court how- People think BC is easy – not true! to be accountable and to deal with us fairly and ever I'm concerned that numerous prisoners may I’m facing a Dangerous Offender/ Long-Term Of- become more ethical in the treatment of prisoners. be ceasing to request access to their Executive fender hearing and I never hurt or killed anyone – Inmates who file Complaints and Grievances, pre- Summary due to intimidation induced by CC's argu- crazy right? Just nuts - for robbery of a drug store? dominately Grievances, are excluded from partici- ments. Anyway I’m going through my 3rd straight year in pation in the Grievance Process beyond their sub- Madame Justice Louise Arbour branded Corrections Pretrial, going to be here another year till my trial is mission. The Analyst who investigates the nature of Canada as a rogue organization due to their refusal done. I’m an ‘example case’ which they are going the Grievance prepares an ‘Executive Summary’ of to apply directions throughout the prisons when to start trying to hit everyone with this DO/LTO his or her findings and forwards it to the Decision practices were shown to cause grievous harm. stuff that has robberies or a couple of Pen bits in. Maker who then decides to uphold, deny or reject I request PASAN to publicize the need to persist in So be careful is what I say to everyone, Harper the Grievance and then forwards the Decision to demanding to see the Executive Summary at all gov’t is whack … the inmate. levels of the Grievance procedure and to update us Inmates who are deprived opportunity to view the on the impact of the Decision. Prisoners are being Strength & Honour, BC, 2013 ‘Executive Summary’ completed by the Analyst of denied a Fair Hearing if they are thereby prevented ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ his/her Grievance prior to the Decision by the Deci- from participating 'audi alteram partem' prior to ConFederation Update sion Maker (Inst. Head, Head of Region or Com- the Decision. missioner) are deprived a fair hearing and a breach Re: Canadian Prisoners Labour Confederation of ‘Duty to Act Fairly’. Inmates are entitled to know Respectfully, BC, 2013 (CPLC) the Executive Summary contents and opportunity ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A National Labour Relations Board has ruled that to add new submission to the Decision Maker to CSC Still Breaching 'Duty to Act Fairly' federal inmates who do paid labour in BC prisons make answer and defence to the Analyst’s findings are not public-service employees. prior to the Decision being made. CSC's internal Grievance process is supposed to This decision stems from a complaint made in Dec In my Case, the Judge upheld that the CSC de- provide a redress mechanism to Offenders who are 2011. David Jolivet, a prisoner at Kent Inst, alleged prived me of opportunity to adequately State my dissatisfied with an action or a Correctional Deci- that the CSC had denied him the ability to organize Case to the Decision Maker: sion. At each level of the process, an Offender is other prisoners into a proposed union. supposed to be given an opportunity to review and As interim president of CPLC, Jolivet had requested 1. Copy of Executive Summary completed by the make representation on an Analyst's Recommenda- access to certain cell blocks in order to encourage Third Level Grievance Analyst prior to Decision tion (Executive Summary) before a Grievance Deci- inmates to sign union cards in a membership drive. being taken sion is finalized. The prison warden denied the request, noting the 2. Opportunity to participate ‘audi alteram par- In several of my Grievances I have referred to the confederation was not recognized within the institu- tem’ and bring forth submissions to the Ana- Federal Court's decision in Court File #T-241-10 tion, and that Jolivet did not have permission to lyst’s Executive Summary to the Decision (Lewis vs CSC) which I saw published in the Spring enter those areas freely. Maker Assistant Commissioner of Policy prior 2012 Issue of Cell Count. The CSC was opposed to the Labour Board’s in- to his Decision being made on my Grievance CSC is still breaching the 'Duty to Act Fairly' and volvement, arguing that Jolivet did not meet the breaching the legal principle known as 'audi al- statutory definition of a public service employee I really wish to raise awareness for other inmates teram partem'. They respond always by saying that under federal law and therefore the confederation so that they know when CSC does not share the CSC is in keeping with the legal objectives as set was not an employee organization or union – de- Executive Summary with them prior to the Decision out in the CCRR, which provides that an Offender spite the fact that some reintegration programs being made on his/her Grievance that CSC has be given a copy as soon as practicable after the involve paid labour in the jail. erred in law and breached the ‘Duty to Act Fairly’ Offender submits the Grievance. They also say that Jan 3, 2013 and breached a legal principle known as ‘audi it is consistent with sub. 27(2) of the CCRA which The Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) alteram partem’. This also applies to other Deci- states that where an Offender is entitled under the ruled against us on the issue of jurisdiction as sions such as Security Classifications. CCRA or CCRR to be given reasons for a correc- raised by the Respondent. In short, the PSLRB took tional decision that the Offender be given, forthwith the position that it does not have the jurisdiction to My Case Heading is: after the decision is made, with all of the informa- hear our complaint against the CSC for unfair la- Jason Lewis vs. Assistant Commissioner Ian tion considered in the taking of the Decision or a bour practices (denying us the right to form an McCowan of Correctional Service of Canada and Summary of that information. They say that CSC's employee organization). Attorney General of Canada Grievance Decisions provide a Summary of the Feb 14, 2013 [Court file # T-241-10] information considered in the taking of the Deci- We have filed an application for judicial review of * Judgement filed October 31, 2011 by Mr Justice sion. They also state that sub. 27(1) of the CCRA the decision before the Federal Court of Canada. Martineau of Federal Court of Canada does not apply because there is no right in the Act The Respondent will oppose the application. or Regulations to make representations on a pro- Jason Lewis posed Grievance Decision (Analyst's Recommenda- David Jolivet, BC, 2013 [Reprinted for Reference from Cell Count #65] tions or Executive Summary) before the Decision is ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ finalized.

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 5 Federal Negligence Small Claims Get Big Results Prescription for Chaos

The conservati ve majority has instilled a vigilante As a visible minority and a lifer I've experienced the This lack of, or absence of 'proper' medical care mentality in every guard across the nation. If in- worst CSC has to offer. I've done it all in terms of has become of great concern to me. An injustice mates do not unite and stand up for our rights, physically reacting to CSC maltreatment and yes, where the crimes of the medical staff far outweigh they will slowly erode. I have recently filed griev- the momentary gratification is good but the conse- the crimes of the inmates. Their crime is negli- ances against CSC concerning the restriction of up- quences suck. So what else can I do to make things gence, creating more potential victims than they to-date video game consoles and the $1500 max better for me and for the next guy? are curing. property value. They can easily ignore one voice, I I found the solution! Lawyers are expensive so why I am an inmate at Regina PCC and 3 months ago I need everyone’s help to update our property rights. not sue individual CSC employees in Small Claims informed Medical Staff that I am showing symp- Video game consoles were initially allowed into Court? toms of having an STI and would like to have my Federal Inst to assist inmates dealing with long- So I tried it myself in Mar 2012 in QC. Surprise, blood tested immediately. After numerous letters to term confinement. The psychological harm from surprise, I received an immediate settlement. In BC nurses, doctors, and even a call to the ombudsman, extensive time incarcerated is well documented in where max payouts for Small Claims are $25,000 I have received excuses such as 'You're on the list' the medical field. Video games have been permit- + expenses/costs, I went after more CSC individual and 'Don't come to jail then', but still no blood test. ted for nearly two decades now and as any, even employees under 'Rockarelly' a Supreme Court I have become desperate in expressing concerns for the most casual gamer would know, new technol- decision that says if an employee violates policy my health and for the health of others that I must ogy is available regularly. Our present consoles are then you can sue the individual if you want and you interact with daily. After over 3 months I fear that so outdated they are priced according to antiquity don't need to go through all of the BS of Federal my persistence has become futile. and are subject to frequent malfunction. The re- Court. It terrifies me that people with little or no compas- striction of data capability was a haste decision and Well, now I'm receiving settlements on the regular, sion for life are put in charge of the Health and made without proper justification. Paper is readily guards at Kent have been fired, conditions are Safety of hundreds. available in even the most restricted environments improving for cons wherever I go. so there is no merit in the supposed security threat Illegal segregation placement constitutes a loss of Sincerely, SK, 2013 of memory in game consoles. Technological modifi- liberty. I have recent case law of $4,000 and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ cations are readily accessible in any municipality $10,000 per day for loss of liberty. across the country and the benefits of an appeased All 'Use of Force' (CD 567-1) are received by Ot- The Penal Press: inmate population are not limited to our mental tawa and if you file a 3rd Level National Grievance, A History of Prison from Within health. call the Correctional Investigator to file an addi- www.penalpress.com The $1500 property limit has been in place since tional complaint, and then fill out a CSC Offender at least 1995 and I believe it may date back to the Privacy Act Request form (CSC form 1381) asking The Penal Press is a primary source of prison ‘80s. Over the past 18 years the average rate of for all video/emails/Security Incident Reports/ history from within. Written and produced by inflation on material goods is around 3% a year. In Executive Summaries disclosure, you will then start prisoners, it provides insight into how convicts the early ‘90s CDs were $5, now they are $20. to get the results you are looking for! If 'they' tell viewed the penal justice apparatus, its policies Sweatpants used to be $20, now they are $50. I you 'the video no longer exists', they are lying. CSC and its practices could go on with the comparison but it would be keeps all video for 30 days min. and on 'Use of redundant. In every institution, wardens are author- Force' for 2 years min. This website is dedicated to providing an open ized to identify permitted property items for in- Call your local Provincial Court for Small Claims -access archive of these important materi- mates. Wardens take the time to thoroughly con- Rules, Forms, etc. Filing fees are 'waived' for most als. While focusing on Canadian publications, sider all the necessary and reasonable items for cons. Learn & know your rights and even more we welcome newsletters from other parts of inmates to possess yet I am being prevented from importantly, exercise your rights! the world; we will digitize and make them even possessing half of these items due to an out- Make the guards & their negligent bosses pay, and available. New/old editions will be added to dated value cap. trust me when I tell you this, it prevents and stops the site as they are scanned and coded by I have 4/8 t-shirts, 2/4 sweatpants, 1/3 jeans, 1/3 a lot of BS too as there is absolutely nothing a college students and by Prof. Melissa Munn. ball caps, ¼ shorts and zero running shoes! I am guard hates more than paying a con money from literally being prevented from obtaining the appro- his paycheck. The Canadian penal press officially came into priate clothing because my card has exceeded I document everything, file Grievances, and call in being on Sept 1, 1950 with the publication of $1500. This limit should be removed. Verbal Complaints to the Correctional Investigator/ Kingston Penitentiary’s Telescope. Since then The conservative government is overstepping their Human Rights Commission for any maltreatment. I there have been more than one hundred sepa- prerogatives and imposing on inmates rights. I have remind myself to be patient and not to flip out! rate penal publications produced and pub- not even discussed the absent pay increase in as lished by prisoners in Canada’s federal peni- many years, nor the actual reduction with the re- Anonymous, NS, 2013 tentiaries.” (Full Article “The Canadian Penal cently imposed ‘room and board’ and revoked ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Press: A Documentation and Analysis” is avail- incentive pay. My argument is that my proposals do able at www.jpp.org/documents/forms/JPP2_1/ Women Inside: not cost the government money and all expendi- PenalPress.pdf) tures will be from inmate’s accounts. Bureaucratic Want Your Voices to be Heard? negligence in maintaining up-to-date policies and Acknowledgment: This site, and indeed the over-zealous behaviour on local levels is indicative A new newsletter is starting up and it will be collection from which it is built, would not of our need to act. Please help me by contacting dedicated to the wide range of issues that are exist without the years of dedication and cata- your local Inmate Committee and pro-actively par- important to women prisoners. loguing of Dr. Robert Gaucher. Thank you to ticipating in the defence of inmate’s rights. From health to child custody to self-esteem him for his foresight in preserving these his- and more, there are many topics which are of torical records. Anonymous, BC, 2013 specific interest to women who are in conflict ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ with the law. Editor’s Note: If we want a beloved community, we must Looking for your poems, rants, articles, art- What an incredible collection!!! I lost count at over stand for justice, have recognition for differ- work, or general suggestions about what you 900 Issues from 41 institutions—essential archive. ence without attaching difference to privilege. would like to see in this publication. Thanks to you all for this amazing project! - bell hooks Contact info will be in the Summer Issue.

6 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT Wake up Canada! later she passed away. So at this time with my rights. We just don't have the proper voice to stand mom in the hospital in December 2012, this being with us in those rights. I know with earning $6.90 a Many of us inmates know and have put up with a terminal as well. I found out that I cannot go see day I can't afford a lawyer to help me. It's just not lot during the past few years with all the changes her because I was detained. She passed away on right! It's just not fair. going on in CSC (the whole Harper getting tough January 6th, 2013, and I was not allowed to go to on crime crap). When I first came into prison, my the funeral. My own mother I could not see. That's Anonymous, NB, 2012 intake assessment pen placed me in a minimum too much. That's inhumane! Somehow this needs to ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ security prison. In the time that I was there, it took be changed. I can go to the hospital for myself on a over a year to receive the program needed, even medical TA but could not go to the hospital to see Prisoners’ Legal Services then I had to go to another prison to receive the my dieing mother, or later to her funeral. I believe program. I spent close to three years in a mini- this is a malicious attack of my civil rights. This is The West Coast Prison Justice Society oper- mum. cruel and unusual. It's too late for me now but ates Prisoners’ Legal Services, a legal aid clinic During my time there my sister passed away and I hopefully this stirs stuff up a bit. for federal and provincial prisoners in British was able to go on an ETA to see her in the hospital Our criminal system is unjust. It didn't matter how Columbia. Prisoners’ Legal Services assists before she passed. I finished my program with much good I did while being incarcerated to better prisoners with issues that affect their liberty positive remarks from the facilitator, and was work- myself, pushing for programs to start, pushing rights under s. 7 of the Canadian Charter of ing in the prison delivering parcels. I drove vehicles month after month for maintenance to begin, posi- Rights and Freedoms, such as: all around the grounds there. A while after I was tive feedback from staff, facilitators, and employers approved for passes with the Chapel and Pathways. in prison. It just seems so disheartening and not ◊ segregation I went on 20­-25 group passes with the Chaplain worth trying to do your best because you're judged ◊ disciplinary hearings and about 5 with Pathways. I acted respectful and not by what you do but what other inmates before ◊ involuntary transfers mindful on almost all the passes. A couple of you have done in similar situations, even though ◊ parole suspensions passes I acted inappropriate. I was asked about my they may tell you different. ◊ detention hearings behaviour later and my PO removed the passes Little by little our rights are being taken away. Just ◊ sentence calculation forthcoming. I still maintained a minimum security look at smoking, it's not illegal to smoke but if and a positive attitude and still respected the staff you're caught smoking inside you get charged for it. Prisoners’ Legal Services can provide summary and inmates around me. I get paid $6.90 a day for working but I was advice, make written submissions on behalf of During the few months prior to me going up for charged $10 for being caught smoking, just be- clients, and in some cases, appoint a lawyer to stat release, my parole officer (the fifth in three cause they use the term contraband. When you represent clients at hearings. years), who barely knew my case recommended me pay $10 for three small rolled cigarettes in a mini- for detention. I had no idea what detention was, mum or $10 for one in a medium its still money Prisoners in British Columbia can access our this was my first time ever in jail. I figured with my well spent to deal with the stress here. Do you services by calling the Legal Services Soci- positive attitude, I maintained during incarceration, realize how hard it is when a staff member or ety Call Centre at 1-888-839-8889 for a the positive remarks given by facilitators and staff, guard comes in smelling of cigarette smoke and referral. After getting a referral, prisoners can it probably wouldn't happen. Another inmate was pretty much laughs at the fact that we are not call us directly at 1-866-577-5245 (federal) also referred for detention (same PO) before me allowed to smoke. I don't know about other smok- or 604-853-8712 (provincial). and was detained. On the same day that he was ers but as for me a cigarette calms my nerves. And detained, I was called to the main office and told I going through the crap I have gone through, I've Prisoners’ Human Rights Project was going to a medium security prison with him. It spent a lot of money on smokes. was determined that I would look at the other The stress levels are rising for inmates, closure of The Prisoners’ Human Rights Project assists outcomes of the past two detentions and possibly prisons in Ontario is now filling up Atlantic prisons. British Columbia Prisoners with human rights escape so I was brought to the medium facility. Stress levels of staff, Correctional Officers, Parole and health care issues. Human rights law pro- When I saw my new PO I asked her what was the Officers, and inmates families are up as well. Fami- hibits discrimination by prison authorities on reason for me coming here. She relayed about the lies having to wait longer to be with their incarcer- the basis of a person’s race, national or ethnic risk to the community. I told her that I was not ated son, husband or father because of mandatory origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orien- getting any passes, no interaction with the commu- sentences, or stat releases, or even detention. tation, marital status, family status and mental nity so how does that make any sense. I asked her Someone has got to stop this crap. Harper and or physical disability. what my risk to escape was. She told me low to Toews are running wild and ramped with the tax nothing. So how can I be a risk to the community payer's money. Before I was incarcerated, I worked Funding for this very important project will but not a risk to escape? She could not answer me. for 20 years. I paid my taxes. I supported my fam- expire in March, 2013. If you are interested in So, even though I had a job delivering parcels ily. Maybe it's just the fact that I vote for NDP. making a donation to help the project con- around the prison grounds driving vehicles every Maybe it's they just want to put us behind bars and tinue. day I am now considered a flight risk. not let the world see what's really going on.

So I waited month after month until I went on the Come on now, stopping inmates from ordering food Aboriginal Prisoners’ board. Surprise, surprise, I got detained. Even from outside, that's ludicrous. Like I said before, the Access to Justice Project though I took a maintenance course while being most we earn for working is $6.90 a day. That's here and finished it before I was on the board. $1.15/hr. For jobs that pay a government employee The Aboriginal Prisoners’ Access to Justice Even though my PO here put in a positive report $20-30/hr for the same thing. So it's quite a treat Project provides public legal education materi- for no detention. Even though I received a positive when we have an opportunity to get outside food. als, workshops and legal services to federal report from the facilitator saying I have a grasp on You don't eat the food here! and provincial prisoners in British Columbia. the matter, I still got gated. My PO here said that Is there anyone out there that thinks that we need my former PO would not remove the order for a better voice when it comes to our rights? We do ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ detention. So here I sit. still have rights don't we? As far as I know we do. West Coast Prison Justice Society/ You know what else is really screwed up about the As far as I know as well I am still a Canadian citi- Prisoners’ Legal Services prison system? While being on detention, my mom zen and when I finally do get out I will still work, I 201-33241 Walsh Avenue ended up going into the hospital. I have not seen will still pay my taxes and will still support my fam- Abbotsford, BC, V2S 1Z9 my mother since I went on a pass to see my sister ily. I will finally get a chance to see my mom after ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in the hospital in September of 2009. A few days she's been buried in the family cemetery. We have

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 7 Ashley Smith Inquest Legal Fees have — leads to this sort of generalized coverup.” tions that it is business as usual at Correctional Cost Ottawa $3.6 Million at a Minimum The notion that privilege covers the number of Service Canada in terms of public accountability,” lawyers working on a file and the number of hours he said. How many federal lawyers does it take to keep a they put in, he said by email, is “utterly preposter- dead teenager's prison records a secret? ous and self-serving.” Diana Zlomislic That's a secret, too. It shows “either the profound ignorance or craven- Toronto Star What is known is that legal counsel for the Depart- ness . . . of the Department of Justice when it Jan 13, 2013 ment of Justice charged Canadian taxpayers more comes to the ATI Act, and at least in this instance, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ than $3.6 million for working on the inquests into the law.” N.W.T. Corrections Criticized for Ashley Smith's death — work that included keeping As to whose safety is being protected under Section Housing of Female Prisoners from the public light damning evidence showing 17, “your guess is as good as mine,” he continued. abuses the teen endured in custody. “In any event, that redaction is not mandatory, the One female prisoner spent 9 days in RCMP The figure, what one government official called “a way the solicitor-client redactions are. If govern- cells conservative estimate,” was released to the Toronto ment wanted to release this info, there is no legal The N.W.T.’s corrections system is under fire for Star through an access-to-information request filed prohibition. Clearly, they are taking a very expan- the way it houses women waiting for a court date. more than two months ago. It is the first piece of sive view of safety in order to cover government's Territorial judge Garth Malakoe said he was upset data that begins to quantify the legal wrangling own ass (and you may quote me on that).” to hear about one woman who spent nine days in that has plagued the proceedings, which resume It's not the first time the government has been RCMP holding cells while her lawyer tried to get her Monday morning in Toronto coroner's court with a accused of suppressing information related to psychiatric help. new jury being sworn in. Smith's life and death. The cells are not meant for long-term stays. They Since the 19-year-old died inside a segregation cell A motion brought by federal lawyers in October to have only a cement bench and a toilet, and there is at Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener on Oct. 19, seal videos and documents that show an already no access to a proper bed, real meals, exercise or 2007 — strangling herself with a piece of cloth restrained Smith being duct-taped to the seat of an regular showers. while a group of prison guards who were ordered airplane — with an unidentified RCMP pilot threat- RCMP Sgt. Brad Kaeding said women spend more to not intervene watched — no fewer than four ening to duct-tape her face — and forcibly drugged time in RCMP lockup than men because men can federal lawyers have appeared in coroner's court in in Joliette, Que., against her will with powerful an- be sent to the North Slave Correctional Centre in Toronto bringing forth motions to narrow the scope tipsychotics while guards in riot gear straddled her, Yellowknife. of the inquest and prevent surveillance video depict- amounted to a “pure and simple state coverup,” Kaeding said logistical issues often mean women ing Smith's mistreatment from being shown to the said Julian Falconer, representing the Smith family, can't make the trip to the female facility in Fort jury. who are based in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Smith, N.W.T. They failed on all counts. But they didn't work A Divisional Court judge swiftly dismissed the mo- “For women from the North, they're often sent alone. tion. down south or put into units in men's prisons or in Legal units set up within at least three other sec- Screening of the disturbing prison surveillance video police lockup. And that's certainly discriminatory tions of government, including Corrections Canada, in coroner's court prompted Prime Minister and breaches their charter rights,” said Kim Pate Public Safety and the RCMP, assisted. The govern- Stephen Harper to order Correctional Service Can- from the Elizabeth Fry Society, which works with ment will not say who they were, what they did or ada to abandon its opposition to a broadly focused women and girls in the justice system. even how many contributed to the effort. inquest. Pate said women being held have not been found “Unfortunately, I can't provide the number of legal The events depicted on the video were filmed dur- guilty, and are not often dangerous. She said a agents that have worked on the file,” said Maria ing the last few months of Smith's life in custody. supervised apartment could be used to house Petropoulos, an information co-ordinator within the The family and other parties with standing at the women. Department of Justice. “It's privileged information. inquest, including the prison guards' union, an in- Kaeding said technology could help solve the prob- It would provide an idea of the relative importance mate rights group and the provincial advocate for lem. of the file to the department and that's something children and youth, argued the videos were proof “What would also make sense would be video we can't disclose.” that presiding coroner Dr. John Carlisle was correct conferencing. They have the capacity to do that In response to the Star's request for a full account- to want to examine the teen's entire 11 1/2 from the North Slave Correctional Centre, so many ing of legal costs associated with the inquests, the months in federal prisons. During that period, she of the male offenders aren't making the trip across government released 24 pages that are almost was transferred 17 times among various institutions town because they can appear in court by video. I entirely blacked out. What is visible are six totals across the country. don't believe there is that capacity from Fort Smith for services rendered and disbursements. An addi- Federal prison lawyers argued that anything that yet. That would improve logistical issues remarka- tional 559 pages were removed entirely from the happened to Smith outside of Ontario is “not rele- bly,” he said. file “by virtue of” sections 17 (safety of individuals) vant” and that federal institutions are protected Kaeding said there were similar problems when the and 23 (solicitor-client privilege) of the Access to from scrutiny by “jurisdictional immunity.” young offender facility was in Inuvik, N.W.T. He Information Act. Since the video aired, correctional authorities have believes it would make more sense to have a facil- “It's a conservative number,” said Petropoulos, complied with the coroner's order to produce all ity for women closer to the courts which are re- referring to the grand total of $3,633,878.90. The relevant evidence. sponsible for sentencing. sum does not reflect hours worked by legal units The coroner's office has summoned more than 100 within the prison service, public safety or Royal witnesses to testify. CBC Canadian Mounted Police. That information is also This is the second inquest into Smith's death. It is Mar 18, 2013 entirely redacted. expected to last six months to one year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “This does to me seem as overclaiming solicitor- The first inquiry was derailed in May 2011 when Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination: client privilege,” said Amir Attaran, a University of presiding coroner Dr. Bonita Porter announced her both depend on being outside rather than in- Ottawa law professor and an expert in access-to- retirement after a flurry of legal motions about the side a situation, and one leads to the other. information legislation, who reviewed the file re- scope of the inquest. The jury heard evidence from - Susan Sontag ceived by the Star. only one witness. “The appalling way in which Smith was tortured — Falconer said he is not surprised by the govern- I have learned over the years that when one's and I choose the word advisedly, as a law professor ment's unwillingness to be accountable for the mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing keenly aware of its legal definition and convinced funds spent impeding the inquest process. what must be done does away with fear. that Canadian officials should be prosecuted for it “It is blatantly obvious from the extent of the redac- - Rosa Parks

8 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT Youth Prison Almost Destroyed Me. solitary confinement. Nobody listens. tional Service Canada, and instead of burying it or It Must Change Now, as a coroner’s inquest reconstructs her last ignoring it and taking it out of the survey some sort moments, all of Canada is watching. Will we fail of concerted effort to address this should be in I’m not an expert in the criminal justice system. Just her once again? Will we do nothing once again? order." a product of it. The story of Ashley Smith, the teen- The cold gears of our justice system are tearing Pate said the survey underscores what she called a ager who strangled herself in her prison cell as apart others like her at this very moment. Why do shift under the Harper government toward punish- guards watched, has prompted me to speak out. we remain unmoved? ment of prisoners and away from rehabilitation. But for fortune, that could have been me. She wasn’t someone else’s kid. There but for for- "One of the most consistent complaints I've heard At 15, I ran away from a brutally abusive father. tune, she could have been yours. Could have been from staff, particularly (those) who work with Homeless, freezing, I broke into office buildings for mine. women in prison, is that they don't receive a lot of a place to sleep. It was a relief to be arrested. At Could have been me. training in how to support and assist prisoners — least it meant a roof over my head and three meals that the priority seems to be on how to use force," a day. I did not know it also meant a free educa- David Clayton-Thomas Pate said. tion in a predatory, upside-down society where the Globe and Mail A corrections spokeswoman said the prison service strong rule, the weak are victimized and the inmate Jan 23, 2013 is studying the report. code is all that matters. As lead singer for Blood, Sweat & Tears, David "The survey results raise important issues for em- The guards lock the doors and enforce the rules, Clayton-Thomas sold more than 40 million records ployees, supervisors and senior managers across but the inmates run the joint. Break the rules and and won two Grammys, including song of the year the Correctional Service of Canada and will inform you get a few days in the “hole.” Break the code (Spinning Wheel). Inducted into Halls of Fame in actions at all levels," Sara Parkes said in an email. and you can get killed. Fighting is a survival tool, Canada and the United States. "CSC continues to work to apply its values in the but it’s assault in the eyes of the law, punishable ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ workplace and integrate them into its practices and with more time. If a kid is driven to attempt suicide Canada's Prison Guards processes, as well as to support and strengthen the or self-harm, well, that’s also punishable. That’s Lack 'Common Understanding' on ethical culture in the workplace." how Ashley Smith, originally charged as a juvenile Basic Human Respect for Inmates Parkes also said employees are given training on with a minor crime, ended up serving time as an ethics and workplace values when they are hired adult. TORONTO - Canada's prison guards are essentially and again on appointment to specific jobs. I was just one of thousands of lost, homeless kids – being left to their own devices when it comes to The poll of workplace values follows a pair of ear- kids you see on the street every day. I was not treating inmates with basic human respect, accord- lier ethics questionnaires done in 2007 and 2009. beyond redemption; they just treated me as if I ing to an internal survey report obtained by The A subsequent audit determined results from those was. The lessons of prison guarantee failure after Canadian Press. surveys, which drew on much smaller sample sizes release. In no time I was back, recycled for four The "ethical climate survey" of Correctional Service and found similar results, were not acted upon at more years in hellholes like the Burwash Industrial Canada staff included a question about "treating most participating correctional institutions. Farm, a notorious labour camp south of Sudbury offenders with respect as human beings." The 2012 voluntary survey was administered online that has since been closed. However, responses to the question from the sur- to staff ranging from guards patrolling cell blocks to Are we treating troubled kids any differently today? vey's 2,200 participants were dropped from the top-level bureaucrats carving out policy in Ottawa. Clearly, the vicious cycle of recidivism is alive and final report because of a "lack of unanimity." In all, about 12 per cent of the corrections work- well. A staggering 90 per cent of young offenders "Most probably, the (corrections) community does force responded. The results are considered accu- sent to prison reoffend within two years, according not share a common understanding and expecta- rate within five percentage points 19 times out of to a recent Manitoba government report. And tions regarding respect toward offenders," the re- 20. meanwhile, despite evidence that it is ineffective port states. policy, the federal government is getting “tough” on "Apparently social values around respect toward Will Campbell crime, imposing mandatory sentencing and building offenders have not been encouraged within CSC to Canadian Press more prisons to house more criminals, even as the the same extent as values of respect toward the Mar 31, 2013 crime rate continues to fall. More and more prison- organization and co-workers — leaving this aspect ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ers show up with mental illnesses. They don’t get to each individual's discretion." As usual, in every scheme that worsens the better in jail. They get worse. The document says without proper training, em- position of the poor, it is the poor who are Every one of these men and women was once a kid ployees rely on "what is deeply ingrained in their invoked as beneficiaries. we didn’t care about. These aren’t “other people’s” beliefs" to mould how they treat offenders. - Vandana Shiva kids. These are your kids, your neighbour’s kids. A The report's analysis notes several respondents full 6 per cent of Canadian children aged 12-17 brought up concerns about staff who abused their Look in the mirror. The face that pins you with were accused of a crime in 2010, according to power, a problem it says could be tackled through its double gaze reveals a chastening secret. Public Safety Canada statistics. Most were not workshops focused on values and ethical issues. - Diane Ackerman charged or imprisoned. But new changes to the The findings open a window on the mindset of Criminal Code will ensure that ever more of them correctional officials at a time when a coroner's I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out are crushed in the gears of the criminal justice inquest into the 2007 prison death of troubled all the pots. Then I have stood on the peaky system. teenager Ashley Smith has exposed how a mix of mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and Music saved me. It was a crazy fluke that I ever personal action and bureaucratic procedure shape a sword in my hands. discovered my talent. At the age of 21, two convic- treatment of the incarcerated. - Zora Neale Hurston tions under my belt, I walked out of Millbrook Smith choked herself to death inside her segrega- prison with 20 bucks in my pocket, a mail-order tion cell at the Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener, One isn't necessarily born with courage, but guitar and the dream of becoming a blues singer. Ont., while guards, ordered not to intervene, stood one is born with potential. Without courage, I survived a system that fails us all. Not Ashley watch outside. we cannot practice any other virtue with con- Smith. When she strangled herself in her segrega- Kim Pate, executive director of the Canadian Asso- sistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, gen- tion cell, the only people who could have saved her ciation of Elizabeth Fry Societies, said the apparent erous, or honest. watched and did nothing. Call it crying for help, lack of agreement from staff on humane treatment - Maya Angelou attention-seeking behaviour, whatever you want. should serve as a shot across the bow of prison She did not deserve to die. Canada’s Correctional authorities. Remember we're all in this alone. Investigator has repeatedly called for an end to "It should be a significant wake-up call to Correc- - Jane Wagner

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 9 Prison Double-Bunking Poised to be B.C. Prisoners' Rights Group Protests Health and Hard Time 'The New Norm' Non-Christian Chaplain Layoffs There are those who argue that the best thing to New document appears to give prisons discre- A prisoners' rights group in B.C. is suing the federal do with prisoners is to simply lock them up and tion on its use government for allegedly violating the constitutional throw away the key. If their health suffers for it, so A new directive on inmate accommodation from rights of non-Christian inmates by cancelling the be it. the Commissioner of the Correctional Service of contracts of 18 non-Christian chaplains at federal Others contend that as wards of the state, prison- Canada appears to more readily accept the prac- prisons. ers are entitled to quality health care, for legal, tice of double bunking. Two Buddhists, two Wiccans, two Muslims, a Sikh ethical, social and particularly, public health rea- The document, obtained by CBC News Network's and a Jewish believer say Corrections Canada is sons. As part of that, some jurisdictions offer pro- Power & Politics, dated Feb. 5, 2013, no longer denying them reasonable access to religion and gressive and innovative prison programs, such as includes the principle that existed in a previous spirituality. one in Brazil, that aim to promote health and civic directive that stated "single occupancy accommoda- In October, the agency confirmed its plans to lay off responsibility by offering inmates reduced sentences tion is the most desirable and correctionally appro- 49 part-time chaplains — 31 of whom are Chris- in exchange for riding stationary bicycles that gen- priate method of housing offenders." tians — who provided religious counsel to a variety erate power to light a boardwalk, or ones in the The directive now reads "the Institutional Head … of faiths. The layoffs, expected to take effect at the United States and Japan that involve inmates in the may increase double-bunking cell capacity following end of March, will leave British Columbia without a training of guide dogs for the blind. consultation with the Assistant Deputy Commis- non-Christian chaplain. But what exactly are the legal and ethical obliga- sioner, Institutional Operations, and authorization The part-time chaplains are to be replaced with a tions to provide health for prisoners? And how does by the Regional Deputy Commissioner. Increase will mix of volunteers and the CSC’s 71 full-time Chris- Canada measure up? be done when operationally feasible and take into tian chaplains and two full-time Muslim chaplains. Those are tricky questions, experts say. full consideration of the safety of staff and in- “It is a pretty clear cut case on the basis of relig- One thing they do appear to agree on, though, is mates." ion,” said D.J. Larkin, a staff lawyer with West that the moment the cell door swings shut, the In an interview with Power & Politics, Howard Sa- Coast Prison Justice Society, which is representing nature of the health care experience changes dra- pers, the correctional investigator for Canada, told eight current and former inmates in the case. matically. Not only do the risks of contracting an host Evan Solomon the new directive means “What’s happening right now is there are Christian- infectious disease, or getting violently beaten or "double-bunking has become the new norm." based chaplains in B.C. There are no minority- being sexually abused, increase from the moment The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers based chaplains in B.C.” someone is warehoused in prison, it’s also a whole (UCCO) has been vocal in its opposition to the Larkin says she has documented a number of cases different world of health care delivery. For those practice, saying two inmates sharing a cell designed where prisoners have requested religious counsel- incarcerated in federal prison, the odds of being for one makes the prison environment more dan- ling but have been unable to attain it. quickly seen by a physician, in comparison with gerous for offenders and guards alike. Cantor Michael Zoosman was a part-time Jewish Canadians who aren’t behind bars, are substantially "The closing of three institutions has forced the prison chaplain in B.C. who now works in Washing- reduced. CSC to change its policy on double-bunking," Pierre ton D.C. The variation in care is in part the product of the Mallette, the UCCO's national president wrote to He says religion can help people stay out of prison fact that responsibility for health care is no longer CBC News. — saving money and helping them reintegrate into vested with a province, but rather, with the Correc- A spokesperson for the minister of public safety society. tional Service of Canada (CSC), notes Howard said Vic Toews has not been informed of changes “There's a real opportunity for rehabilitation Sapers, Canada’s Correctional Investigator. to these procedures. through spiritual connectedness that only chaplains But the mere act of incarcerating someone creates In the past, Toews has said that dual accommoda- can achieve,” Zoosman said. certain obstacles in providing health care, he adds. tion is a "completely normal practice" used in many “Minorities deserve the same access to that reha- “Penitentiaries are often located in remote parts of Western countries, and that CSC would continue to bilitation as majorities.” the country and it’s a challenge to recruit and re- use it where appropriate. With their lawsuit, the eight current and former tain health care professionals to work in those But dual accommodation in federal penitentiaries inmates are asking that the Correctional Service of settings. It’s also a challenge to ensure access for has long been a contentious issue. Canada reinstate and continue the contracts of the more complex care, because there is always a "Dropping the principle of single-cell occupancy is non-Christian chaplains in British Columbia. security element to providing health care to offend- cause for serious concern," Catherine Latimer, The CSC wouldn't comment on the lawsuit, but ers, whether it be inside the penitentiary or when executive director of the John Howard Society of released a statement saying it is committed to they are removed to outside hospitals.” Canada, said in a written statement. respecting religious freedom. Certainly staffing is a major challenge. As of De- "Crowding in our prisons endangers both staff and The agency “will also continue to engage the volun- cember 2012, there are a total of 914 nurses, 312 inmates. Ultimately it endangers the public because tary support of our community partners to deliver psychologists, 64 social workers, 27 pharmacists, it impedes the delivery of rehabilitation and reinte- chaplaincy services to offenders,” the statement 17 occupational therapists and only six physicians gration support programs," Latimer said. read. and psychiatrists in Canada’s 57 federal prisons. In The new directive makes it clear that double- “CSC remains committed to respecting the religious addition, about 50 additional physicians provide bunking should remain a temporary measure and freedom and right of expression of federal offend- contract health services to federal prisons. should not exceed 20% of the overall prison popu- ers of all faiths, and will continue to provide support As of November 2012, those health care practitio- lation without approval from the Commissioner. and services to offenders of all religious back- ners were providing health care to an inmate popu- Also, when necessary to house two offenders in the grounds.” lation of 15,055. Prisoners serving sentences of two same cell, penitentiary staff must complete an In October, the CSC confirmed that the total cost of years less a day do their time in provincial jails, and assessment that takes into consideration factors the chaplain program is about $6.4 million a year. their health needs fall under the rubric of provincial such as the inmates' compatibility, behaviour, gang Part-time contracts represent approximately $1.3 and territorial jurisdiction. According to Statistics affiliation and health. million of the budget. Canada, there were 24,461 inmates in provincial jails in 2011. Alison Crawford CBC CBC News Mar 16, 2013 Adam Miller Feb 6, 2013 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Canadian Medical Association Journal ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jan 16, 2013 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT ‘The Hole' is Hell for Prisoners move that has resulted in safer prisons for staff than those with no work programs. By comparison, and prisoners. inmates who worked in low-skill jobs were 24 per Shocking ima ges of a young woman, Ashley Smith, In Canada, this issue is not on any legislative cent less likely to reoffend. dying with a ligature around her neck in a solitary- agenda, yet the human and fiscal costs of solitary The Public Safety memo criticizes Corcan for can- confinement cell while prison guards watched, were confinement are enormous. A groundbreaking law- celling a carpentry apprenticeship program and rightly disturbing to many Canadians. A long- suit launched in B.C. argues that the federal policy planning to end an electrical apprenticeship pro- overdue inquest into her death is ongoing. But of prolonged segregation of female prisoners vio- gram at William Head penitentiary, just outside of looking more broadly in Canada and around the lates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Free- Victoria, noting that carpentry and electrical work world, the prolonged use of solitary confinement is doms. Perhaps the awareness raised by this litiga- are among the top three in-demand jobs on Van- coming under fire from mental-health and human tion, as well as through the Smith inquest, will couver Island. rights experts, as well as from prison officials. cause Canadians to rethink our counterproductive In addition to concerns about the value of the work A growing body of medical literature documents the and inhumane reliance on solitary confinement. programs, there are not enough opportunities on lasting and profound psychological damage result- offer to meet inmate demand, according to the ing from solitary confinement. In a 2011 report, the Debra Parkes memo. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Winnipeg Free Press “Correctional Service Canada staff themselves have called for an absolute ban on solitary confinement Mar 21, 2013 identified the single biggest barrier to effective for youth, for people with mental disabilities and for ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ participation in work and vocational programs is periods longer than 14 days. Prison Work Programs Fail Inmates NOT inmate disinterest, but rather the shortage of On any given day there are about 850 federal and the Public, documents show such programs,” it states. prisoners in solitary confinement or While some 500 new jobs were created over the "segregation" (that is, locked in a small cell for at Many of the job opportunities offered in federal past two years, the memo points out that nearly all least 23 hours per day with no human contact prisons to boost inmates’ chances of finding work of the new positions were “daily work activities” of beyond peering through a meal slot). About 16 per after their release are a waste of government re- limited value to those seeking employment after cent were "voluntary" in the sense that the individ- sources that do little to keep the public safe, docu- their release. ual sought protective custody out of fear for their ments obtained by The Globe and Mail suggest. Jason Godin, Ontario regional president for the own safety. Just more than two per cent were pun- That’s because the work experience on offer rarely Union of Canadian Correctional Officers, said ishments for institutional infractions such as mouth- matches the skills convicts need to get real jobs, the prison staff are seeing first-hand that inmates’ ing off to a guard or disobeying an order. All the documents say, preparing them instead for indus- access to employment and other programs has rest -- more than 80 per cent -- were involuntary tries that are either obsolete or will have few open- declined in recent years. placements for "administrative" reasons. Prison ings when they get out of prison. “In terms of wait times, in terms of accessibility to officials deemed the isolation necessary for the The stark analysis of the Correctional Service of the programs, it’s clearly diminished,” he said. “We "good order" of the institution, citing safety con- Canada’s Corcan work programs, prepared by the truly believe that public safety is going to be sacri- cerns or fears for the health of the prisoner (many Public Safety Department last May and obtained ficed or jeopardized as a result of a lack of this of whom have mental-health needs that are exac- under the Access to Information Act, describes a type of rehabilitation and programming.” erbated in solitary). In many cases, including system that is too small for many inmates to access Sara Parkes, a spokeswoman for the Correctional Smith's, women and men spend years in "the hole," and offers few opportunities to develop skills that Service of Canada, said the carpentry program at in a series of placements. can be applied outside of prison. William Head Institution was not providing “the At the provincial level, due to a lack of reporting “One of the biggest weaknesses of Corcan is the best value for money.” The electrical program is requirements or oversight, the public simply has no absence of any correlation between either the work still running. information about the use of solitary confinement in or the vocational training programs with labour Asked whether Corcan would increase the number the 13 provincial and territorial corrections systems. market analyses,” the memo to Public Safety Minis- of opportunities available to inmates, the spokes- My own research in Manitoba, based on docu- ter Vic Toews states. “Training inmates for the jobs woman said the program’s plan is to provide “as ments I received through costly access-to- of yesterday, or for non-existent jobs, or for jobs in many on-the-job training and vocational training information requests in 2010, revealed that prison- already over-resourced fields in competition with opportunities for offenders as possible given the ers in the old Portage Correctional Centre for non-offenders is a waste of scarce resources and operational environment in a penitentiary.” Women were regularly held in solitary for reasons counterproductive to public safety.” not permitted by law, including for "overflow." A spokeswoman for the Correctional Service of Kim Mackrael Numerous reports and commissions of inquiry at Canada said Corcan recognized last year that it Globe and Mail the federal level have found prisoners are segre- needed to do a better job matching training oppor- Jan 07, 2013 gated for illegal reasons and internal review proc- tunities with labour-market projections and has ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ esses are ineffective to enforce the law and address developed a plan that will put more emphasis on You're only young once, but you can be imma- human rights abuses. Past calls for reform and programs that respond to labour-market trends ture forever. external oversight of segregation, as well as for the and take into account the types of jobs available to - Germaine Greer diversion of prisoners to the mental-health system someone with a criminal record. The plan will come rather than segregation, have not been taken up. into effect later this year, she said. Sit down and read. Educate yourself for the And the problem is likely to get worse as the prison About 4,000 men and 125 women worked in the coming conflicts. population grows. Corcan program in the fiscal year ending in March - Mother Jones But there are signs of change in surprising places. of 2012, according to the Correctional Service of South of the border, the widespread practice of Canada. For in the end, freedom is a personal and lonely prolonged segregation in state "supermax" prisons, Inmates worked in textiles, construction, manufac- battle; and one faces down fears of today so which rose to prominence in the 1990s, is being turing and services, and produced a range of items that those of tomorrow might be engaged. questioned by courts and lawmakers. In the sum- including pillowcases, modular homes and furniture. - Alice Walker mer of 2012, a U.S. Senate judiciary committee Several Canadian reports suggest that prison work held that country's first congressional hearing on can significantly reduce the likelihood a convict will I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was solitary confinement. In the face of lawsuits and reoffend. And a 1996 U.S. Bureau of Prisons study, one of two things I had a right to, liberty or compelling evidence of solitary's negative effects, cited in the memo to Mr. Toews, found inmates death; if I could not have one, I would have the some states from Mississippi to Maine have radi- who participated in vocational or apprenticeship other. cally reduced their use of solitary confinement, a training were 33 per cent less likely to re-offend - Harriet Tubman

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 11 Provinces Bear Rising Justice Costs, 2006. English well. Budget Watchdog Finds Nicholson said the "cost of crime is borne by vic- That said, BCC is no fun. The prisoners sleep bar- tims; that's the side (New Democrats) are never racks-style, access to exercise is profoundly re- Cost of jails, courts and policing up 23% in last on." stricted and violence, while not common, is an ever- decade, amid drop in crime rate Bob Rae, the Liberal interim leader, also waded in, present threat. Don't ask about the food. And Per capita spending on criminal justice — including saying in a release the report confirms "what Liber- what's more transfers to other, far far worse institu- federal and provincial jails, court costs and policing als have long suspected about this government's so- tions are made on a seemingly arbitrary basis to — has climbed 23 per cent over the last decade called 'tough on crime' agenda: that it is, in fact, address the overcrowding issue. Anyone who thinks even as the crime rate fell 23 per cent, says a new tough on taxpayers." a Canadian prison, even one as relatively good as study by the Parliamentary budget office. Final report before Page exit BCC, is a pleasant place has never been inside one. The report, a first-of-its kind, comprehensive look at The report is the last to be released under the And yet a rather bland factual news story about the criminal justice costs over time, put the price tag at watch of Kevin Page, Parliament's first fiscal watch- opening of the new prison in Rankin was met with $20.3 billion in 2011-12. dog whose eventful five-year term ends Monday. a flood of angry comments about over pampered The authors looked at direct public spending on Provincial security and court costs, as well as fed- prisoners, club fed hotels and similar complaints. policing, courts and corrections, including parole. eral corrections costs all climbed by more than 40 Many focused their complaints on a couple of They excluded costs such as victims compensation, per cent between 2002 and 2012, while federal asides in the news story. The story noted that, from private security and non-criminal matters such as security costs rose 53 per cent, the study said. the outside, the prison looked like a school. Addi- family, environmental and competition law. Policing costs were "relatively flat" before beginning tionally, the new prison is going to attempt to be a Almost $15 billion of the total last year, or 73 per a steady climb in 2007, the same year corrections place of healing as well as punishment. cent, was carried by the provinces and municipali- costs reversed course and began rising. Court costs These two asides enraged some readers -- many of ties. — including judges, prosecutors, legal aid and whom focused on taxpayer money being wasted on "It is important to note that in Canada, the federal youth justice — had been decreasing, but started criminals. The cost issue is an odd concern, seeing government has exclusive jurisdiction to make up again in 2006, although they still haven't as healing circles are hardly expensive and whether criminal law, unlike the United Sates where each reached 2002 levels. the exterior of a jail looks like a tradition jail or a state has this power," the study states. Court costs shifted toward the provinces and terri- factory or a school doesn't change the cost of the "With regards to the enforcement of criminal law, it tories and off Ottawa over the study period. building. is the responsibility of the provinces and territories." In 2002, the federal government carried 32 per But to consider each point in turn -- first, making The Conservative government has been on a seven- cent of criminal court costs, but that had fallen to the prison look like something else is not unusual. year push to increase sentences and introduce new 22 per cent by 2012. The provincial share, mean- The mega-prison in Lindsay Ontario looks much like laws, citing its own internal study that claims crime while rose 10 points to 78 per cent. a factory set back from the road. Unless you read costs victims $100 billion a year in Canada. Provincial incarceration rates were also on the rise, the small identifying sign or actually drive up to the Toews concerned about policing costs while federal rates actually fell, the report said. door you would not realize you were looking at a In January, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews warned prison and not, say, a folding box plant. In the case a policing conference in Ottawa that rising police of the new jail the local residents of Rankin costs cannot be maintained. (taxpayers I might add) asked the facility be made "A decade ago, the average Canadian readily ac- to look like a school so as to limit the visual impact cepted, almost without question, steady increases in on the community. police budgets," Toews told the conference in a Dealing with the concept of healing in prison I can prepared speech. state, unequivocally, that the overwhelming majority "Today, however, there are increasing calls to dem- of crime in Nunavut has a substance abuse compo- onstrate the value of the investments that all gov- nent -- usually alcohol. People, usually men, who ernments make in public services, including polic- are decent hard-working individuals drink and be- ing." come dangerous and violent criminals. The budget office report released Wednesday I agree they must be separated from society for a shows a direct correlation between Prime Minister time and punishment is required by society -- but Stephen Harper taking office in 2006 and a jump absent treatment these same individuals will be in criminal justice spending, both in Ottawa and released, get drunk and hurt other people. Treat- elsewhere. Source: Parliamentary Budget Office ment is an essential element of criminal justice. And Crime rates, meanwhile, have been on a steady healing from childhood abuse (which is astoundingly decline since 2003 — a trend the office says it The Canadian Press common), family suicide (again a regular occu- included in the report "for illustrative purposes Mar 20, 2013 pancy) and longstanding alcoholism is necessary if only." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ substance abuse is to stop. "This paper is not policy advice," the authors state. Nunavut's New Jail Is No Club Fed The new facility in Rankin is reasonable and neces- That didn't forestall a heated policy debate over the sary -- and it is in no way a pampering of criminals. report in the House of Commons. Another jail opened in Nunavut last week. It is long Nicholson defends record overdue -- the existing facility in Iqaluit, Baffin Cor- James Morton NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin said costs are rectional Centre is, as Justice Mahar of the Nuna- Huffington Post "sky-rocketing" — and landing on provincial ledgers vut Court of Justice recently said, "notoriously over Jan 17, 2013 — even though the crime rate was already on the crowded and under resourced." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ way down when the Harper government came to BCC, as Baffin Correctional Centre is usually called, You've got to have something to eat and a little power. is far from the worst jail in Canada. Apart from the love in your life before you can hold still for "This report proves the Conservative crime agenda grotesque overcrowding it is reasonably good -- the any-damn-body's sermon on how to behave. is more about photo ops and partisanship than guards are approachable and try to treat the pris- - Billie Holiday getting results," she charged. oners with respect. The prisoner themselves are Justice Minister Rob Nicholson responded that his (usually but not always) compliant and respectful of Law and justice are not always the same. When government "makes no apologies for cracking down the guards and each other. Cultural issues are they aren't, destroying the law may be the first on crime," add ing the Conservatives have intro- respected. Virtually all the prisoners are of aborigi- step toward changing it. duced 30 pieces of legislation on the file since nal background, usually Inuit; many do not speak - Gloria Steinem

12 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT Why Are There So Many serving additional sentences for crimes committed mum sentence of three years in a penitentiary. Aboriginal People in Prison? in detention. Their mental health deteriorates. However, Mr. Smickle's trial judge recoiled at the The condition of female Aboriginal inmates with severity of the penalty for a first-time offender with I think most Canadians are proud of Canada's mental illness is of particular concern. Aboriginal a fiancée and a steady job, and struck down the reputation for respecting the rights of others. Any- women are the most vulnerable among this vulner- provision. one who has visited countries less fortunate would able group. These are women scarred by genera- The legal clinic states that 62 per cent of those probably agree it's a reputation that is richly de- tions of neglect, abuse, and systemic discrimination. charged under the same firearms provision as Mr. served. I commend the Correctional Investigator for draw- Smickle are black. In contrast, it said that blacks But this Canada, the Canada I know and love, is a ing attention to these issues. If it is true that his make up only 8.4 per cent of the population. The relatively recent entity. Respected Canadian author recommendations have been dismissed out of hand, clinic also maintains that black males are more and historian Irving Abella eloquently makes that I am saddened. This is not the Canada I grew up likely than whites to be stopped by police, to be point in a recent Globe and Mail article. In it, he in. The Canada I know and love. The Canada the refused bail and to plead guilty to avoid spending observes, the Canada of the first of half of the 20th world admires. long periods of pretrial detention. century would be hard to recognize today. Another of the test cases involves Hussein Nur, The old Canada, he writes, was "a benighted, David Langtry whose family emigrated from Somalia when he was closed, xenophobic society in which minorities were Huffington Post five years old. His lawyers argue that, like many barred from almost every sector of Canadian life." Mar 15, 2013 black immigrants, Mr. Nur will be automatically Worse still, racism was embedded in the mindset of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ deported because his mandatory sentence exceeds the ruling classes and permeated public life. Ontario Court to Examine Allegations of two years. The transformation of Canadian society did not Racism in Sentencing Rules Federal and Ontario lawyers hope to tiptoe around come about by accident. It was driven by the deter- the question of police behaviour and whether black mination of a wide cross-section of Canadians to Ottawa's crime-fighting agenda at stake as On- males are more or less inclined to commit gun build a society free of the kind of racial, ethnic and tario court to examine allegations sentencing crimes. Their written briefs focus instead on a se- other barriers that are at the root of so much mis- rules biased against black males ries of penalties they state are necessary to combat ery on the planet. Over and over, through the post- A groundbreaking test of mandatory minimum gun crime. war period, Canadians expressed this determina- sentences in the Ontario Court of Appeal this week They contend that mandatory minimum sentences tion in elections, choosing Parliaments and Prime will probe accusations that they perpetuate centu- have an equal impact on Canadians of any racial Ministers committed to transforming an exclusion- ries of court-sanctioned racism by unfairly targeting origin. Other defendants attack the mandatory ary, white-dominated society into something much black males. penalties for allegedly breaching Charter rights to more inclusive, more humane -- an example to the At stake is a major plank in the federal govern- equality; to life, liberty, security of the person; and world. ment's crime-fighting agenda, which uses manda- to be free of cruel and unusual punishment. The Canadian Human Rights Act is one outcome of tory minimums to tie the hands of judges and this endeavour. Parliament designed it as a tool to serves as a harsh warning to would-be offenders. Kirk Makin remove barriers to opportunity based on ethnic Lawyers in some of the six test cases allege that a Globe and Mail origin, skin colour, gender or disability. Millions of disproportionate number of black males are Feb 18, 2013 Canadians would not have been able to live the charged with mandatory minimum offences, not ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ lives they wish to have and are able to have (to because black men have a greater propensity to From the hour you're born you begin to die. paraphrase the language of the Act) had these commit crimes, but because they are more likely But between birth and death there's life. barriers remained. than whites to be under police surveillance. - Simone de Beauvoir But there are areas where we seem locked in a "Anti-black racism is pervasive and results in bias in time-warp. the criminal justice system," says a legal brief for One accurate measurement is worth a thou- Personally, I find it shocking that close to one in the African Canadian Legal Clinic. sand expert opinions. four inmates in the federal correctional system is It argues that, historically, a white-dominated justice - Grace Hopper an Aboriginal person. Yet Aboriginal people make system failed to stop segregation in housing, schools up only four percent of our population. They are and social gathering places. "Ongoing discrimination You have to be taught to be second class; ten times more likely than anyone else to end up in against African-Canadians in the criminal justice you're not born that way. jail. And that number is climbing. What does this system has perpetuated a distrust of the police that - Lena Horne say about our country? dates back to slavery," it states. This was raised as a matter of urgency by Howard The legal clinic contends that today systemic racism Our strategy should be not only to confront Sapers, the Correctional Investigator, in a Special puts blacks at the bottom of the socioeconomic empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of Report to Parliament. I appreciate the complexity ladder, where black males are more prone to end oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, of these issues, and the challenges of dealing with up before the courts because they live in gang- our music, our literature, our stubbornness, them. But denying the facts doesn't make them ridden neighbourhoods with a heavy police pres- our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness disappear. Since the release of his report, Mr. Sa- ence. – and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories pers has expressed concern that his calls for action Worse still, the clinic says that impressionable that are different from the ones we’re being are falling on deaf ears. young black men end up being incarcerated for brainwashed to believe. Female offenders are the most vulnerable in the long periods alongside hardened criminals. Their The corporate revolution will collapse if we prison population. They are twice as likely as male absences cause anguish to their children and frac- refuse to buy what they are selling – their offenders to have a significant mental health diag- ture family ties, it added. ideas, their version of history, their wars, their nosis at time of admission, and they are far more One of the defendants, Leroy Smickle, was holding weapons, their notion of inevitability. likely than males to self-harm in prison. a gun when Toronto Police officers, who were look- Remember this: We be many and they be few. And one in three is Aboriginal. ing for someone else, battered down his apartment They need us more than we need them. Not only are Aboriginal women over-represented in door on March 9, 2009. (Mr. Smickle was reclining Another world is not only possible, she is on our prisons, a disproportionate number are held in on a sofa with the gun in one hand and his laptop her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breath- solitary confinement. This creates barriers to access computer in the other.) Mr. Smickle, 30, had been ing. to rehabilitation programs. As a result, Aboriginal in the process of snapping a Facebook photo of - Arundhati Roy women in cor rections do not get paroled early if at himself. He was charged with possessing a loaded ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ all. They end up serving more time. Some end up firearm; an offence that carries a mandatory mini-

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 13 On the Wave 180 Time

Sail-boarding was denied by the powers that be My daily routine is about to begin Here I sit & wait So the prisoner took out the 'Wave Race' cartridge The pain that I’ve seen starts over again Wondering what’s my fate And took the obstacle course on his Nintendo I open my eyes with faith in my heart Doing time & trying hard He did jumps ... & tricks, weaving through pylons And to my surprise I get a new start To keep my mind With adroit reflexes over & over ... I’m rising above my lonely despair Holding on to dreams Until he was no longer in prison I’m trying to love and hopefully care Workin’ on getting rid He was on a sundrenched coast ... Now that I’ve changed I feel so complete Of nightmares With blue skies as far as the eye could see No longer deranged or filled with deceit Memories are all I have The months flew by & so he became ... Old memories with new & No longer self-concerned Chayne Lafantaisie Hopeful dreams to share ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time gone Peter Williams Time Time wasted ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time never to recuperate No One The prisoner lamented ... Time lost forever The judge had given him Life Undergoing transformation Feelin' lazy, feelin' lonely A suite eternal rented ... No one here 2 hold me From the clock no further strife Richard Jackson No one 2 console me, no one's where Now there was time to kill - ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No one's there & no one cares But I would not wish it so ... The greatness of a community is most accu- Beware, beware, true friends are rare Time to read the Book of Life ... rately measured by the compassionate actions Life isn't fair, livin' in despair Or watch a sapling grow of its members, ... a heart of grace and a soul Not one of us is spared The jury thought it punishment - generated by love. Feelin' down & out, longing 2 get out The truth they could not know - Coretta Scott King Filled with sorrow & filled with doubt For given was all anger spent - Don't be scared when you're feelin' vulnerable The years now on could flow ... Everybody gets so much information all day Stay solid, do what's honourable long that they lose their common sense. All you got is your balls & your word in this world Peter Williams - Gertrude Stein So keep your word & don't be a bird ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ricky Ryan WORD SEARCH FUN FOR FREAKY FRIENDS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Untitled A C H G I H Y G R A D E T U P

D T G E G Y Y N G M O T E L S The very slight possibility of the most grateful op- portunity to create a modern-day reality at the turn C N H T D E K O P E P S T Y J of the century to heal and cure Fetal Alcohol Syn- O L Y F E D B R S G E H R E M drome which causes alcohol problems and a set of M S J L L A B T I P S Y T A R signs and symptoms that together indicate injury from that disease capable of causing death. M A O L S B C S C R I O K N C

And here I am, I must grind the demon to dust and U Y Y U M C O C I O C G J K S heal and cure. The Crown Prosecutor, criminal sanctions at its N D T P G E N A N L K I N V U disposal to achieve the institution's cycle of addic- I P I R S S D F G V M E G T O tions, crime, poverty and prison, regardless of creed, colour or criminal history and court liable, C K G X A S O U S C O R E E N inmate liable, and the designated Dangerous Of- A Y E Q R P M K U O R D T O E fender liable, to quash the indeterminate sentence from my record, will get me out on the street. T E J E E O L D G P D A H K V

My sincere responsibility and accountability to ame- I N Y L P C E N A N D L C O A liorate any rehabilitation as an individual aboriginal N O I G A S I E R I G B F K R offender reintegrating into mainstream society as a law-abiding citizen here in Saskatchewan. G M C O T V I L T T K L T A T

And I am as an individual to live in denial of free- V X L K R J H X O F A I O L N dom in solitary confinement of the environmental incarceration or in any institution or a penitentiary N P I A Y E R W Q P S X B M I or in any provincial correctional center. W R T Y I P H E P A T I T I S And here I am a thrill-seeking public example, affiliated hardcore criminal to negotiate on cement M S B F C E A X M O D E E R F and steel in any institution preserve as a person in jail. My future endeavours are all about proper per- ABCESS, CARS, COKE, COMMUNICATING, CONDOM, COP, CRACK, DATE, DOPESICK, spective, self-esteem, to live in peace and in har- FLAP, FREEDOM, GRADE, HEPATITIS, HEROIN, HIGH, ICING SUGAR, INTRAVENOUS, mony, which goes beyond faith to become god's KEEP SIX, MONEY, MOTELS, PARTY, POKE, POLICE, PULL, RAT, RIG, SCORE, SPITBALL, helper to heal and cure. STARVING, STRONG, UP

Gabriel Wolfe Reprinted from ‘Ho’s & Hypes’ (April 1998)

14 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT Two Are Better Than One Comfortably Numb Once Was

When working together in tandem I can have moments of serenity Locked in a room Two are better than one Sometimes even a glimmer of hope With nothing but silence The job is a lot easier But when the past or my issues creep up on me Getting’ out soon And the quicker it gets done It can take a lot to hold on & cope Enough of the violence And when one stumbles & falls I feel like the depths of my hell I’ve done the dirt The other can reach out a hand Have my feelings entwined in flames And paid my dues To help comfort & ease the pain I hate all the turmoil, some days I feel totally insane I’m done with the hurt Till back on his feet he can stand My yesterdays cripple me, my emotions And beefin’ with you And at the darkest hour of night I switch to numb Here lies a man Two are better than one I reach out to my drug of choice, Who’s been through it all To keep each other cozy & warm It makes me ‘comfortably numb’ United we stand Until the rising sun But the jazz ain’t that jazzy no more But divided we fall And if two are apprehended Nothing pretty when you’re hitting the floor The evil’s embedded They’re more powerful than one Taking me to scary places So deep within They can protect & defend Trying to numb all the pain I’ve endured That I know where I’m headed And put evil on the run It used to be a beautiful thing Cuz I know where I’ve been There’s nothing like the camaraderie My comforter, my Calgon The companionship, togetherness & fun Makes me comfortably numb Chayne Lafantaisie A threefold cord is not easily broken My addiction takes over me ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And two are better than one Every time it’s won Like a King I am tired of the hustle Vanessa Micek I am tired of waking up sick I live in a palace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am tired of that whole damn trip I should drink hooch from a chalice! Crime Pays I need to despise it My meals are free It has taken a lot for me to take these steps And delivered to me Momma got tears fallin' like rain To be able to write this today My servants come in two’s Feel my pain, runaway train Three weeks since I’ve been in my numb state And they’re always dressed in blues Hate & cocaine in my veins Being a junkie, I know deep inside, it is not my fate Yeah, they even wear their vests Stuck on a range tryin' 2 change my ways I am starting to feel now, it’s scary When they wanna look their best! Shackled & chained But overdosing is scarier If I ever need a ride Locked away in a cage 'n neva be the same I believe we all have a purpose in life I can bet it’ll be outside 4 me fuckin' freedom feels strange I just needed to step out of my haze They are never late See me on a news frontpage And none of it would be even possible They make sure I keep my date Jus' anotha early mornin' raid If I didn’t have my creator above My clothes aren’t very fancy Crime pays, crime pays I guess they can’t be chancy Fuck 'Free Trade' Rebecca Reid They want me dressing bright Workin' like a slave, minimum wage ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In case I decide on flight! Wanna get paid like wanna get laid Time … They also bring my mail Feel so drained, livin' in 'End o' Days' And open it for me! Way we was raised, crime pays Time … Gotta make sure it’s safe Defies an age You know livin’ in this place! Ricky Ryan longs or lingers … Oh yeah! You could live here too ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ wilts & withers But it’s a fuckin’ zoo Only One Even the strongest bars Time … They tell you when you can go out It’s loud & screams at me Turns a page And you are never free Deeper & deeper it thieves From word to chapter … You loose that when you come here From my every total being Before & after You have the right to fight Screaming at me Forever & afar But you’ll probably see the hole! Every inch by square nook & cranny Time … In case you haven’t guessed it And every locked door space Defines a man My palace here is jail! The only space, one can be, alone Drunk or sober … I’m inside lookin’ out! A failing stay, away, calmly I insist Over & over And that’s the life I chose Only to better my being of self-worth Till lessons learned from the heart All my gals are Ho’s The torture I impatiently put myself through Time … Livin’ like a king! Scaring myself, insecurely leaving me A jagged edge In the palace that I chose! Distraught & unhopeful & carelessly mistaken We dig & dredge … Hurt & throbbing for all this to go Again & again Terry Robins Painfully disturbing, so they’ve told That leads us to the start … ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Only one way I should go Time … Misery is a communicable disease. Only one, only me alone - Martha Graham To be gone, happy Steve McGuire Only this one ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the The first rule of holes: when you're in one, stop good we often might win, by fearing to at- Anonymous digging. tempt." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - Molly Ivins - Jane Addams

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 15 A liver biopsy uses a needle to take a sample of Thinking about testing? Want more informa- - I’M A LIVER & A FIGHTER! - your liver to check for damage. tion, or want to find out where to get testing and treatment on the outside? Want support by Hep C Program volunteer, Kristy, with thanks to Getting treatment around your positive test result? Call Annika or CATIE for resources! If you are interested in treatment, you should talk steph at PASAN and we will help you find the to an infectious disease specialist or a primary care answers. Toll-free from federal 1-866-224- Do you think you may have been exposed doctor who knows how to read your test results and 9978, or collect 416-920-9567, Monday-Friday to hepatitis C? Thinking about getting can treat hep C. 9am-5pm EST. tested? If you were on hep C treatment before you went to You can also call CATIE’s information line from You can get tested for the hep C virus through prison, you have the right to continue treatment anywhere in Canada toll-free at 1-800-263- prison health care. If you have a short sentence or while in prison. In a federal institution, you will need 1638 or collect 416-203-7122, Monday to an upcoming release date, you may decide to get to get a prison doctor or specialist to prescribe the Thursday, 10am-6pm, EST. tested in the community. Either way, learn about treatment medications. Some federal prisons have When can I use bleach to clean surfaces? your options for managing your health and getting other prisoners who can talk to you about health info & support for hep C. issues like hep C treatment. Casual contact, such as sharing everyday items You can’t begin treatment in a provincial institution, Getting tested but if you feel comfortable with prison health care, (dishes, cups and glasses) is not a risk. But blood, body fluids and items that come in contact with In federal institutions, hep C testing is offered on you can try to get your testing done and connect admission. In federal and provincial, you can re- with a specialist or treatment team in your home blood are possibly infectious. Cleaning up blood spills and not sharing personal grooming equip- quest hep C testing at any time. community in preparation for your release. If you test positive you should get post-test counsel- In most provinces and territories, if you get income ment (such as razors, nail clippers and toothbrushes) will keep people safe from hepatitis ling to learn about hep C transmission, prevention, support benefits like disability or welfare, you can and treatment options. In federal, all counselling is apply to have the cost of medications covered. The C and other infections. A solution of bleach and water is an effective way done by CSC health care staff. Depending on Non-Insured Health Benefits program may cover which provincial institution you’re in, counselling treatment costs for registered First Nations and to disinfect surfaces that have been exposed to blood. However, bleach is not an effective way to may be provided by institutional health care or by recognized Inuit peoples. For more information call someone from the local Public Health Unit. the numbers at the end of this article. kill the hepatitis C virus that can live in blood that collects in a syringe. There are two separate blood tests for hep C: The first test is for Hep C antibodies. This test Treatment options Certain conditions can weaken bleach and de- crease how well it works. Bleach is weaker and checks to see if you’ve ever come into contact with The goal of hepatitis C treatment is to get rid of hep C. A negative test result means you have never the hep C virus from your body. If the virus has less effective when it is: come in contact with hep C. A positive result means been cleared, then the treatment worked. This is that you have come into contact with hep C at known as sustained virological response (SVR) ◊ not kept in contact with the site it is cleaning some point. If you get a positive result, know what and is considered a cure. for a long enough period of time test to ask for next! About 20-25% of people clear ◊ diluted with water the hep C virus on their own, but they will always Medications used to treat Hep C ◊ stored in a place where it is exposed to day- test positive on the antibody test. Hep C antibodies The standard treatment for hep C is a com ­ light stay in your blood even when the virus has been bination of two medications, peg-interferon and ◊ left without a cap and exposed to air for a cleared. If you have a positive result, you need to ribavirin. In 2011, two new antiretroviral drugs, long period of time take the second test to find out if the virus is still in boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek) be- your body. came available in Canada. These medications are The following information describes how to The second test is done to check for the hep C used only in people with genotype 1 hep C virus. use bleach to clean surfaces. virus (this test is also called a PCR test, a viral load People take only one of these medications in combi- test, or an RNA test). A negative result from the nation with peg-interferon and ribavirin. Cleaning surfaces virus test means you do not have hep C. A positive When cleaning up blood spills, the following steps result means that you have hep C. Peg-interferon will prevent the spread of blood-borne infections The test will tell you how much virus you have in This is a form of a protein used to fight viruses in like hepatitis C: your blood and what genotype (family) your virus is your body. It is a weekly injection. in. There are 6 genotypes of hep C virus: HCV 1, 2, 1. Wear gloves—torn gloves will not protect the hands from coming into contact with the 3, 4, 5 and 6. The genotypes respond differently to Ribavirin, boceprevir and telaprevir treatments and this is good for you to know so you These drugs interfere with the virus and improve blood. can decide if you want to go for treatment. the effectiveness of treatment. They do not work to 2. Carefully collect any sharp objects, such as clear the hep C virus by them­selves. Ribavirin is broken glass, and put them in a sturdy plastic So, you’ve tested positive for the hep C taken as a pill twice a day. Boceprevir or telaprevir container such as one used for detergents. virus. What next???? are taken as pills, two to three times a day. 3. Wipe up the blood using paper towel or dis- posable rags and cloths. Maybe you’re thinking about treatment. The follow- The treatments can have side effects so you will 4. Disinfect the area with a solution of 1 part ing tests can help you make decisions about treat- need to visit with health care during treatment to ment and show how well your liver is working. Ask bleach to 9 parts waters. check your health. You will also need blood tests health care if there is an infectious disease nurse or 5. Let sit for 10 minutes (at least). during treatment and six months after treatment is doctor you can talk to about test results. 6. Wipe up the bleach solution using paper finished to see if the virus is gone from your body. Liver function tests measure the levels of liver- towel, disposable rags or cloths. After successful treatment, it is important to avoid produced enzymes and proteins in your blood. High 7. Place the gloves, paper towel, rags and cloths re-infection. You can never become immune to hep levels could be caused by hep C, but also could be into a durable bag and seal it. C, there is no vaccine yet, and you could get re- caused by things like alcohol, drugs, toxins or other 8. Wash hands thoroughly. infected with the same strain or a different strain of viruses. Liver function tests give a snapshot of how hep C virus! If treatment does not work, you can well your liver is working at the time. This information is provided by CATIE. make certain changes to your life to stay healthy Ultrasounds take a picture of your liver to see if For more information, contact CATIE at and reduce liver damage. there is liver damage. 1.800.263.1638 (this number is approved).

16 SPRING 2013 - CELL COUNT to sharpen them is with a small piece of sandpaper and it doesn't do a lot of good for the tattoo either. T A T T O O I N G & Y O U : stuck to your fan, or by hand using slow pull-away Make sure that a new toothpaste cap is used, or and turn motions. The needle should be razor styrofoam cup or whatever, and that it's cleaned the safeguards within prisons sharp - the shorter the point, the longer the needle with alcohol. will stay sharp. The artist should also wear latex gloves. The tattooist should not break through all the lay- ers of skin. If they do it can result in infection and SAFE TATTOOING If you have to boil your equipment, do so for 15 heavy scarring. There will always be a little scarring

Tattooing is a popular art form that many men and minutes, with bleach if you have it. The best system - remember, you're punching millions of holes to women in prison participate in. If the work is done I have found is to make everything brand new each make a piece, but the ink will cover that. The heavy safely, by a skilled artist who values both their art time and boil it, and afterwards clean it with alco- scarring I'm talking about - which seems to be and the health of their customers, tattooing is an hol and let the person who got the work done keep abundant in prison - is the deep, rutted scarring. activity that can give a lot of happiness and pride to the works. By making the customer responsible for You can run your finger lightly over it and feel the the artist and customer alike. However, if their own personal works, they can get more work indentations left from some butcher calling them- proper precautions are not followed, tat- done later (if the piece isn't finished yet) and be selves a tattoo artist. Any butcher can follow a tooing can be a high risk for the positive that no one else has used them. bunch of lines stencilled on someone's skin - the art spread of diseases like Hepatitis C comes from the shading, and every tattoo and HIV. artist has a unique shade. That's the addic- tion. Because of this, once you've been around a while and seen a lot of work, you CHOOSING AN ARTIST should be able to tell who did it - and that's

Everyone likes to get tattoos in prison, and without a signature! that's good because a lot of the best artists are in prison - artists that take pride in Be aware of cross contamination. This their work, and do mega-detail! means that anything that comes into con- tact with a used needle, dirty rag, blood, When you're entering a prison, take your etc., is contaminated. For example, if the time before getting tattooed. Too many tattoo gun cord comes into contact with people want to hurry, hurry, hurry. Well, blood during a tattoo it is considered con- don't rush, because the people who do only taminated. This could be a risk to the next end up later looking for a good artist to client receiving a tattoo if it comes into cover up the hurry, hurry crap. contact with their open tattoo sores. As much as possible the tattooist should pro- The artist should make sure that the art tect against cross contamination by using work the person wants is what they will non-microwaveable plastic wrap to cover get. If you're getting a tattoo, make sure equipment and working surfaces. you check out as much of the artist's work as possi- ble to make sure he or she knows what they're SAFE INKS SAFE DISPOSAL doing. You trust your life on the ink you use. Just because After you've finished a tattoo, you have medical Take your time when looking for a tattoo, and in someone tells you the ink they're using is brand waste. After the job is done, everything you used is picking an artist to do it for you. If you can, try to new doesn't mean anything, because you can't see waste and should be treated as such. The needle, see the artist in action first, and watch what he or the HIV virus or Hep C virus. You can't tell by look- tube or shaft that the needle goes in, the ink, the she does. This can really help you make good deci- ing if the ink is clean or not. ink cap, the gloves, and the new towel that you had sions. at the start which is now black, should be disposed Getting ink is a big problem within prison. CSC of. Don't ever re-use any of the stuff. You banned ink in their efforts to curb tattooing prac- can't take it to health care, so you have to throw it SAFE TOOLS in the garbage. tices. This makes it hard to get. You can make your In here it's very hard to ensure that the equipment own ink by burning paper and mixing it with water (needles, shaft, ink) is clean. The only way to be to make a thick paste - then away you go! The Make sure you cut the point off the needle and sure is to have the tattoo artist make the new artist should mix the ink in front of you, so you bend it up before you throw it or flush it. This will needle in front of you. know it's disease free. make sure the garbage person or whoever won't accidentally get stuck by it. This way you know for When doing a tattoo, everything the artist uses The standard practice for the serious tattoo artist is sure that you're not spreading any diseases. The should be brand new. To make sure of this, the to obtain a sealed bottle of ink from somewhere gloves and rags should also be tossed or flushed artist that you choose should be able to (use your imagination!) and use that. Reusing or and never reused. make up everything in front of you - the sharing ink is very high risk for disease needle, shaft for the ink, and tip for the transmission (Hep C and HIV)! Written by Wm. Danks needle. For this, the tattoo artist needs to be Art by Tim Felfoldi adept at making the equipment fast. If the artist SAFE WORK can't make the needle in front of you, tell him or Joyceville Inst, Kingston, ON (1998) her to drift. Even these precautions cannot guaran- When using a home-made prison tattoo gun, make tee a safe tattoo. sure that the area you're working on is flat and that you're holding the gun straight on. This will BLEACH DOES NOT A simple pen or lighter can be used for a tip and make the ink flow to the spot you're working on shaft. A pack of guitar strings can make endless and stay there until you wipe it off. Never hold your KILL HEP C needles for t he price of a few dollars. An easy way gun on a tilt. This causes blotching and infection,

CELL COUNT - SPRING 2013 17 - BE KIND TO YOUR VEINS -

Be kind to your veins, they’re the only ones you’ve got! Veins become leaky, infected and will eventually collapse if they don’t have time to heal between injections. You can tell a vein has collapsed when it seems to have disappeared or you can’t draw blood from it. To help prevent your veins from becoming damaged: ♦ try to use a different injection site for each time you shoot up ♦ learn how to inject in a number of places and with either hand so you’ll be able to use the other side if one side needs a rest ♦ save the “easy” spots for when you know you don’t have time ♦ shoot in the direction of your heart with the hole of the needle facing upwards ♦ taking oral vitamin C may help your veins repair themselves

To make sure your vein is full of blood and easier to hit, try: ♦ clenching and relaxing your fist - KEEPING FIT - ♦ gently rubbing or slapping the skin over the vein

♦ soak your arm in warm water ABSCESSES ♦ squeeze your bicep with your hand ♦ Push-ups, pull-ups or wrist curls Abscesses (infected boils) begin with red- ♦ use a tourniquet (belt, string, rubber bands, shoelaces, etc.) ness, swelling and tenderness at the injection site and develop into an infection with a REMEMBER THAT INFECTIONS ARE HARD TO HEAL, hard, pus-filled center. They are caused by IT IS BETTER TO PREVENT INFECTIONS tiny germs getting pushed under the skin by

WHERE TO SHOOT the rig. If you notice a hard warm lump de- Always shoot in a vein, never an artery. To be sure you’re in the vein, pull back the plunger, if slow moving veloping and can’t see a doctor, put a warm dark red blood comes into the syringe, YOU’RE IN A VEIN. If the blood is bright red and frothy or if the compress on it at least 3 times a day, this plunger is forced back by the pressure of blood, YOU’RE IN AN ARTERY – GET OUT! Untie, pull needle will bring blood to the area and will make it out, raise the limb above your head if possible and apply pressure for 10 minutes. Also: go away or it will soften and fill up with pus. Also keep the abscess clean with soap and ♦ areas that are furthest away from the heart heal the slowest and have the worst circulation (eg: feet) water. It may drain by itself but if you ♦ areas that are closest to the heart have veins that are near major arteries and nerves which can choose to drain it yourself, ONLY USE A cause serious damage if hit CLEAN NEEDLE to poke it with. The pus ♦ the veins in your arms are the safest places to shoot should come out easily, never squeeze it ♦ never inject where you feel a pulse (an artery) because it will spread the infection. If you ♦ try to hit surface veins instead of deeper ones are able to, put a dry bandage over it and keep it clean. If you get a fever, chills, ex- ♦ shoot in the direction of your heart treme fatigue or pain (especially in the groin GOOD PLACES TO SHOOT or armpits) that is related to the abscess, The veins in your upper arms and forearms are as safe as any! you may have a blood infection - you proba- bly need medical attention for this. Some BAD PLACES TO SHOOT infections need antibiotics to be cleared up. DO NOT fix into your eyes, face, armpits, penis or breasts, these veins are so fragile and hard to find that they’re not worth the risk. The same goes for veins near your belly button and inner thigh, they are too COTTON FEVER (“The Bends”) deep! Cotton fever happens when a piece of the PLACES TO SHOOT ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO filter gets sucked into the syringe and in- Veins in the hands and feet are fragile and will hurt, inject slowly into these areas. Inject slowly into the jected into your blood. Within hours, you veins behind your knees also and be careful of the artery that runs next to the vein. develop a fever and get really sick, your IF YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR JUGULAR (in the neck) bones ache, you feel hot and cold at the Hits into your jugular are very dangerous. Chunks and clots can go quickly to your brain or heart and same time and you shake. The best thing to cause a stroke or heart attack. Your best bet is not to shoot here at all. If you must, clean the area first do is to rest, eat something and cover up with alcohol, then shoot towards the heart and come in at the smallest angle possible - 35 degrees or less. with a blanket. Cotton fever usually gets Flag it to make sure you’re in. Go as slow as possible and don’t stand up too fast. There is no 100% safe better after an hour. way to shoot in your jugular. CHALK LUNG GERMS Germs cause abscesses including spit germs, skin germs and other people’s germs. To avoid germs getting into your body while you’re fixing: Chalk Lung is caused by injecting something that won’t mix with water. These pieces can ♦ don’t lick the bubble off the top of the point include talc, chalk and cornstarch (many pills ♦ don’t lick the site before or after fixing have these pieces.) Your lungs may scar ♦ don’t use a dirty mix like toilet water or spit (if you have to use toilet water, use the water in the making it hard to breathe. Chalk Lung can tank, not the bowl) be prevented by filtering carefully every ♦ don’t touch the filters too much time. ♦ avoid sharing spoons, water, filters and rigs with other people ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ♦ clean the site before fixing if you can with soap or alcohol

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