No hope for ‘walking dead’
Tour of prisons alerts senator to state of despair among inmates
Lack of educational and reintegration programs at Nova Scotia’s federal prisons has left some inmates filled with despair and hopelessness, says a Canadian senator involved in a nationwide study.
“One of the quotes … from one of the men we met with, is that there is an absolute lack of hope amongst particularly many of the younger men at Springhill,” said Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, chair of the Senate committee on human rights. “And that offender used the term, ‘the walking dead.’”
She said it describes inmates who feel there are no programs to assist in furthering their education or otherwise make them more employable. Likewise, there is little to ease their transition back into society once they are released.
The Nova Scotia senator spent last week touring all four federal prisons in Atlantic Canada, including Nova Institution for Women in Truro, Dorchester Penitentiary and the Atlantic Institution in Renous, both in New Brunswick.
Bernard also visited the East Coast Forensic Hospital in Dartmouth and attended a public hearing at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Dartmouth.
The tour included visits to federal institutions in Quebec and Ontario and will continue with other facilities in the western provinces.
After more than 40 years as a social worker, educator, researcher, community activist and advocate of social change, Bernard said she’s not surprised by the information she has gathered.
Nonetheless, Bernard said, the stories she is hearing from administrators and inmates alike is concerning. And if not addressed, the issues will undoubtedly create long-term negative effects both for prisoners and the communities where they will eventually return.
“At the end of the day, most of these people will be coming back into their communities, reuniting with their families. Human rights should be rights for everyone in this country, including offenders and people should have an opportunity to reintegrate into society.”
One way to accomplish that, she said, is by helping inmates improve themselves while incarcerated. This means providing post-secondary education
and training programs, so they have a better chance of obtaining meaningful employment once released.
“And if people aren’t given opportunities to stretch themselves to see other opportunities, to
see other pathways to their very existence in society, then it’s very easy to fall back into a life of crime.”
“Our committee is certainly listening. And we do care,” she said.