An advocacy group that acts as a voice for inmates in Saskatchewan‘s correctional system is launching a podcast that includes their tales and experiences, with the objective of fixing how we take into consideration justice.
Listening to good tales is an opportunity to attach, significantly throughout COVID-19, when persons are feeling extra disconnected than earlier than, says Blair Roberts, host of the podcast Know Justice.
The venture is being undertaken by the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, which Roberts mentioned was in search of a brand new technique to advocate and share its work inside the justice system.
“We felt prefer it was a little bit of a singular technique to advocate and get a few of that data out and share great tales,” Roberts mentioned.
Julie Paul’s son, River Peters, is in the Regina Correctional Centre’s remand unit and caught COVID-19 there.
Paul, who’s featured on an episode of Know Justice, mentioned her son has since recovered.
She participated in a rally outdoors the correctional facility in early January, and arranged a rally of her personal that includes dancers in regalia, as methods to specific her concern about her son’s scenario.
Paul organized a dance for inmates contained in the Regina Correctional Centre and took part in a rally to assist these inside earlier this month. (Bryan Eneas/CBC)
Paul mentioned her son’s major considerations had been entry to medicines when he was in ache and never realizing when he can be allowed to contact his household.
“He was locked down for seven days and wasn’t capable of inform me he was sick or something,” Paul mentioned.
“That was the worst — him not with the ability to join with me.”
Paul mentioned she was upset by feedback made by Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Inform — repeated by Premier Scott Moe earlier this month — that prisoners on remand had been in search of a “get out of jail free card” by asking to be launched from jail because of the pandemic.
Inform’s workplace launched an announcement concerning the scenario after a petition was introduced, calling for her resignation.
“It could be a disservice to victims and a breach of my obligation to keep up public security to grant depart to inmates who wouldn’t in any other case meet the stringent public security standards in place for early launch,” the assertion mentioned.
“Equally, the Ministry of Corrections and Policing will not be capable of launch remanded inmates. The choice to remand inmates is made by the courts after dialogue between prosecutors, defence counsel, the judiciary and another crucial events.”
Tells assertion additionally famous that “87 per cent of inmates on remand have been charged with a violent offence.”
Roberts identified that inmates on remand have not been convicted or sentenced for against the law — they’re being held and awaiting trial. He additionally mentioned Saskatchewan makes use of remand at a far increased price than the nationwide common.
“The final numbers I learn mentioned 58 per cent of prisoners had been on remand. These are actually excessive numbers for somebody who hasn’t really been convicted of against the law but.”
He repeated calls the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan made, asking for the province to cut back the variety of inmates in remand through the pandemic, and to offer further programming for inmates inside jails.
