10/27/2011 9:13:07 AM
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maureen
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offender
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mckitching@hotmail.ca
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Over the past 20 yrs I've spent a considerable amount of time at Quinte detention center. One thing I'm sure of is that the ability to totally degrade and humilliate another human being is an unwritten part of the job description. I've seen, time and time again, two guards talking and laughing together, an inmate approaches, their faces turn to stone the very minute they look at an inmate. Is it too much to smile at an inmate? Most other institutions, or even dealing with the police, you give respect, you get respect.
I have spoken to people from different professional agencies, volunteers, etc., that visit the institution. They generally say the same thing, the guards tend to treat them the same way. anyone who is coming into the institution for the greater good of the inmates, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics anonymous, volunteers who provide library services, etc. they get treated as 2nd class citizens as well. Total disrespect.
I've known some of these guards for 20 yrs. Eighty percent of them act in this manner. The other 20% are terrific! Just doing their job, but doing it well. Treating those who show respect with respect. It is so nice to see them!
I've been in holding cells in A&d waiting to get booked in and sent to a range. The cell they keep the women in has no toilet. I have asked politely to use a washroom, they laugh and say things like " oh yeah, a female officer is rushing down here" again they laugh. More than 3-4hrs later, after the males have been processed they may finally call for a female officer (if you're lucky) or they may move you to the male bull pen where the toilet is in plain view of their desk, and usually covered in urine, sometimes feces, and they laugh when they see you gag, knowing there is no way you can use this toilet. this is how the entertain themselves, by humiliating and totally degrading you.
I've spoken to correctional students who are absolutely horrified at the treatment of inmates in the provincial system. The federal system, at least what I've seen at Grand valley Institution for Women, do not act disrespectfully if they're shown respect. They are not out to degrade and humiliate, but are there to help and to do their job. The federal guards that I've spoken to about any time they've spent in the provincial system have basically the same impression that I do. The provincial guards are there to humiliate, degrade, belittle and anything else they can do to tear down any self esteem or self respect a person may have. There is no desire to help inmates in any way in the provincial system. This is an extreme abuse of power and it is very widespread throughout our provincial correctional system. It needs to be thoroughly investigated and corrected. Canadians pride themselves on the fact that we as a nation do not treat people of any kind in this way.
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This prison is like any other facility, expect for the difference that its much smaller in size then the east and west buckets. Cant compare it to the super jails like lindsey or pennetang. The Mentality and conditions make it an old dirty jail. Cockroaches and rat infested. Like Any other jail stress is very real and people do snap, drama does occur occasionally. I Spent 1 year and 14 days in that bucket serving a deuce less bid. i was shipped of to lindsey and then back to quinte napanee bucket during my incareation. Food is alright especially on fridays you get fish and fries otherwise its boiled potatoes threw out the week. I've growned since then and now the year is 09', i've reflected and kept a postive lifestyle ever since then staying out of prison. Instead giving to the community rather then taking from it.
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