Inside Time page 35 March 2011[1]

Insidetime March 2011 www.insidetime.org Family Welfare 35 W hat a week it’s been for me! As the founder of Prisoners Families Voices, I have to deal with lots of emails on a daily basis. I was astounded the other day when I received over 30 emails from a company trying to flog Viagra to us. Now then, considering our email address starts with: prisoners families, you’d think these folk would have some kind of common sense wouldn’t you? We are a prisoners families online blog who receives emails saying, 50% off Viagra! That would be like someone trying to flog the con- traceptive pill to a hysterectomy group wouldn’t it? Or even worse the Ministry of Justice receiving an invite to a Mafia wedding! Talking of weddings, my hubby’s cousin, who is finishing off his sentence in an open prison, attended a Greek wedding last month. His brother was marrying a beautiful Greek lady. He was granted weekend home leave because he had been a model prisoner. The celebra- tions were going swimmingly until the bride- who works for a well known bank – noticed 20 counterfeit notes pinned to her dress. From what I can gather, investigations are still ongoing. But my hubby’s cousin didn’t exactly make matters any better by telling the guests that he was a professional illusionist. The bridal party apparently told him in no uncertain terms not to tell anyone he was a prisoner. That secret didn’t last long though. The bride’s uncle had asked my hubby’s cousin what his profession was. He said he made ‘things’ disappear. The bride’s aunt smiled and chirped in, “Are you a bit like, David Copperfield then?” My other half’s cousin confidently replied, “Yes, but I don’t think David Copperfield ever made Securicor vans disappear!” I suppose it wasn’t his fault. He’s been in prison for donkey’s years and the festivities were quite overwhelming for him. Even when the wedding guests started to smash plates, as it’s their Greek tradition, he never joined in because he said he didn’t want to get done for criminal damage bless him. I didn’t attend the wedding myself, but my Granddad did. He’s another story too. At 85 years of age, he’s no spring chicken. Anyway, a few weeks ago I took him on his first prison visit to see my hubby. It all went horribly wrong in the search area. First of all, we had to stand on the yellow lines whilst the dog walked past us. We ended up standing there for 20 minutes because every time the dog walked past Granddad, he told it to sit and shake a paw. The next incident was when he was asked to put his possessions in a tray. I was busy taking off my rings and jewellery only to turn around and see Granddad standing there with sod all on! God knows what the screws thought. His little legs were like clothes props and his crinkly bottom was on show for all and sundry! I tried to tell him that when the screws had asked for possessions to be put in a tray, they didn’t mean his shoes, trousers, buttoned shirt and Y-fronts. Being a typical British male though, he did leave his socks on, so I guess he didn’t let the side down when it came to representing the majority of men in this country! No doubt Inside Time may receive some replies regarding my comments on that score! Inside the visits room was no better. I’m not sure he knew exactly where he was to be honest. He asked one of the screws if there was a gift shop so he could take a present back home for Hilda, his next door neighbour. He was rather disappointed that there wasn’t one. But even if there was, I wouldn’t have thought Hilda would have appreciated a set of handcuffs at her ripe old age. I shouldn’t say it, but he was a nightmare. After he’d gone round shaking all the screws hands, we had approximately a 15 minute visit. Great! Needless to say, I have been stressed out, so this month I shall make a point of going to Granddad’s local to tell his domino friends that my hubby does not live on HMS, but thanks for all the cards and letters of support of which they asked me to pass on to him in Afghanistan. Prison isn’t one of those things Karen Mellor, 6 February I might be controversial here, but I don’t care. To a degree, I agree with Charlotte Linacre’s comment in The Sun newspaper, and I’ll tell you why. As Anonymous so rightly says (below post) there are indeed genuine families of prisoners around who want to make a difference. Therefore, I have no problem with assisted prison visits whatsoever. What I do have a problem with is paying for people to visit when they have no clue about parenting and think it’s alright for their loved one to be in prison. I have heard countless women on visits talk about how this is their partners 8th time inside, and how this is their son’s 5th time inside etc. It’s alright talking about this maintaining family ties crap, but how can families maintain ties when some of them can’t even look after a goldfish? You can’t tell me any different because I’ve seen it for my own eyes. I take imprisonment seriously. I know people who see it as ‘one of those things.’ It’s not ‘one of those things’ when someone goes inside for their 8th time is it? So why should tax payers keep paying for it? Sitting at a visits table isn’t going to improve parenting. Writing letters about having fish fingers for tea isn’t going to improve it either. It’s all about the lifestyle families lead on the outside. ........................................................ Parenting matters Anonymous, 6 February I would like to respond to Maureen Jame’s post please. I know exactly where she is coming from when she mentioned the youths talking about prison. I live on an estate where there are repeat offenders. I also live on an estate where their mothers and fathers couldn’t care less what they are getting up to of a night. Then when a Police van comes and picks them up, their mothers are ranting and raving as to why. Sorry to say this, but I know there are genuine families out there who want to make a difference, but there are others who couldn’t care less too. I spoke to one Mum who said she was glad her son was in prison because he’s a pain by a Prison Widow in the backside. Sorry, but if that’s what you call parenting then what a sad world we live in. ........................................................ Probation Service Have No Idea Anonymous (Via Facebook), 16 February Pray do tell? Because I’m as confused as everyone else. My better half was released last year. His probation appointments are now down to once a month. He has a job, which is only temporary, but it’s still a job when all said and done. His probation officer hasn’t lifted a finger in terms of help and support regarding employment. He went to an agency that so called helped ex-offenders find work and that was a joke too. I have heard they have since lost their funding - surprise surprise. It was me who helped him back into employment by sitting at my PC sending CV’s off for him everyday. Eventually it paid off. He has been working now for 6 months, which all goes towards his CV should he be laid off. Families can help to reduce re-offending. But I believe that some may need support in order to do this. When I sat back and thought about how much his probation officer did for him - my conclu- sion was, they may as well have paid me his wages. Considering also that he is on a MAPPA licence, I’d have thought he may have received some extra help. But no. Probation did help him to put a CV together and the spelling mistakes in it were rife. I had to redo it and if anyone requires any proof of this, then I would certainly send it off to whoever wants a look. I agree with others on the blog that families aren’t included with their so-called rehabilitation with probation. Well, probation have no clue what rehabilitation is. They think that group sessions with other offenders work? How? I have known ex-offenders to attend these lame meetings only to have hooked up with another offender afterwards and go off the rails. I have also heard many say that their probation officer is nice? All well and good, but ‘nice’ does not achieve results. I will be glad when my partner’s once a month, 5 minute drop-in at probation is over and done with. It’s not worth catching a bus for! Prisoners Families Voices prisonersfamiliesvoices. blogspot.com/ :25.,1*)257+( :(/)$5(2)35,621(56$1' '()(1'$176 &URZQ &RXUW &RXUW RI $SSHDO 5HSUHVHQWDWLRQ $OOW\SHVRIFDVHVXQGHUWDNHQ $OODVSHFWVRISULVRQODZDQG FULPLQDOODZZRUNXQGHUWDNHQ )XOO/HJDO$LG+HOS :( :( $/62 63($. )5(1&+ 7 $/62 63($. )5(1&+ 7 $0,/ $0,/ 0$85,7,$1 &5(2/( +,1', 85'8 0$85,7,$1 &5(2/( +,1', 85'8 &DOOXVQRZDQGZHZLOODUUDQJHDYLVLW LPPHGLDWHO\ RU RU (0(5*(1&< 02% )$; %LFNHUVWHWK5RDG7RRWLQJ%URDGZD\ /RQGRQ6:6+ &5,0,1$/ '()(1&(63(&,$/,676 5DM /DZ 6ROLFLWRUV 5DM /DZ 6ROLFLWRUV Criminal Defence, Appeals and Prison Law Specialists All Prison issues including: • Licence & Parole Hearings • Categorisation & Transfer • Recall to Custody • Ajudications • Tariff & Judicial Review For an Immediate Response contact: Duncan Smith Glaisyers Solicitors 10 Rowchester Court Printing House Street Birmingham B4 6DZ 0121 233 2971 CLARKE KIERNAN SOLICITORS FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE SOUTH EAST WE ARE A RESPECTED ‘LEGAL 500’ FIRM FRANCHISED BY THE LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION AND OUR DEDICATED AND EXPERIENCED TEAM IS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU IN ANY AREA OF LITIGATION PRISON LAW DEPARTMENT All aspects of criminal law, including Appeals/CCRC/Confiscation Orders. All aspects of prison law, including adjudications, parole, DLP, categorisati on, Judicial Review CIVIL DEPARTMENT Tafadzwa Chigudu Legal aid available for Housing problems, due to your remand or looking forwards towards release. Including threat of possession of your home and advice on eligibility for local authority housing following release. FAMILY DEPARTMENT All aspects of matrimonial and children disputes, including proceedings involving the Local authority. Divorce, domestic violence, cohabitation and Civil partnerships. All aspects of financial disputes.

Inside Time page 35 March 2011[1]

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