Prairie Regional Report
Edmonton Institution for Women, Regional Psychiatric Centre, Okimaw Ochi Healing Lodge
May, 2011
The Prairie Region has experienced some changed with the makeup of our team, and we hope to find some new consistency and routine in the near future. Currently our team is Caroleen Wright from EFry Saskatchewan, Tracy Booth from EFry Manitoba and Toni Sinclair from EFry Edmonton. We are excited to announce the EFry Calgary has hired a new Executive Director; we are hopeful she will participate in our Regional Advocacy work as well.
We are certain that as with our Regional Advocate sisters across the country, the Federal government’s Law and Order agenda is directly causal to the increase in criminalization of women in the Prairie Region. Furthermore, our region has seen a decrease by about 10% of women in the community. One can presume, therefore, that this decrease is related to the increase in institutional populations. Across our Region, we are seeing far fewer women going up for day or full parole, and a substantial increase in women remaining institutionalized until their statutory release date or warrant expiry either by choice or by circumstance. Additionally, bail is revoked for almost 100% of women who return to the federal institutions within the Prairies after a breach/new charge, further compounding the ‘busting at the seams’ nature of our women’s federal prisons. All of the above leads to serious and alarming concerns within our region for the successful reintegration of our women back into the community.
Also across our Region, we continue to see the increase in over-representation of Aboriginal women who are criminalized at all levels of the justice system. This necessitates the need for increased cultural sensitivity, awareness, and advocacy (ie Gladue rights) at all levels; we have not seen any systemic improvements in this area, unfortunately.
At our most recent Prairie Regional Meeting, we took note of a lack of consistency across our region when it comes to obtaining legal counsel through our provincial Legal Aid Societies. Whereas in Manitoba, most individuals can successfully apply for and receive legal counsel, in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, cutbacks to Legal Aid has meant that it is an extreme challenge to qualify. We are educating ourselves about the possibility of supporting our women through Robatham applications (court appointed counsel), and we are curious if our sisters across the country have had success in this regard?
Furthermore, the number of Remand status women in our region has more than tripled over the past several years. This means that women are shuffled across the provinces making preparation for trial next to impossible in many cases. Even lawyers express difficulties tracking down their clients. Edmonton, for instance, currently has 161 remand status women and only 2 serving provincial sentences. Two years ago, Edmonton would have a maximum of 48 remand status women. Many of these women are awaiting transfer to federal institutions across the country. With the building of new institutions across our country, these numbers will continue to steadily increase.
Okimaw Ohci Report – Compiled by Bernice Perkins
There were 39 women at the Lodge and the tension was palpable.
The Iskwewak Committee was meeting and a new Vice President was being elected. Staff was unsure who was on committee. The committee did not meet with me this visit.
The issue of lack of visitation of family at Okimaw Ohci is always present. The mother child program is still not running at Okimaw. On this visit one woman mentioned that her job was to shred the paperwork for this program dating back to 1999. I am wondering about confidentiality issues. She has not seen any new paperwork in relation to the mother-child program since.
Elder Johnny Oakes passed away the week before my visit and some of the women had concerns that they were not able to attend the burial even when they filled out formal requests to do so. The Elder’s Helpers’ contract also needs to be renewed and will not be addressed until the end of April. Because this position is vacant the women do not have access to the Sweat Lodge.
Isolation from family and friends was also a common comment from the women.
Moreover, they also requested assistance in gathering information to do taxes, to obtain identification and common experience compensation forms. Many of the women did not know that the deadline for this form is this September. The women were also not aware of the CAEFS bursary forms that were dropped off during the Christmas visit. I took it upon myself to bring in some more CAEFS bursary forms and left with them with the new Deputy Director, Lee Anne Skene.
The women also indicated that Case Managers were not doing reports and filling out forms for them. Many of the women also had concerns that CM’s were only there to collect pay and not work with the women on their needs. It was reported by some that a certain Case Manager was disrespectful and not engaging with the women. It was said that she ignores their questions and treats them disrespectfully.
When Claire left and Veronica came in as the new Kikawinaw, there was a Change of Command ceremony for which the women were locked in their houses. The women also inducated that Veronica wants to change the name of Kikawinaw to warden instead. Veronica has been away on leave since mid April and Theresa Coleyis her replacement until Veronica returns May 13th.
Three women who spoke with the Office of the Correctional Investigator in February were threatened with transfer. One woman was involuntarily transferred to Edmonton and the other two, have been informed that the reason behind their impending involuntary transfers was safety. These women have challenged this and the staff insist that it is safety issues and nothing else.
One Case Manager has been reported by the women to be disclosing confidential information about other women’s transfers or concerns to other women which is a \breach of confidentiality.
Some of the women who are getting ready for parole were told that their dates could not be postponed until the next round of in-house programming started. Rather these women are reportedly being sent on Unescorted Temporary Absences for forty five days to AdventaTreatmentCenter in Calgary, as opposed to programming in the Lodge. The women also reported that there is no programming for violent behaviors.
Women also indicated that staff insist that women do House Mediations and when they do, staff put a negative spin on it in their report.
The Art Therapy program begins May 2nd and is anticipated by the women.
There are thirteen women attending the singing for the Sundance. The next singing outing is scheduled for May 17th.
Edmonton Institution for Women
Count: At the time of writing this report, the general population at Edmonton Institution for Women has 116 women , 23 women in Maximum Security Unit, and 3 in Segregation. Furthermore, there are a minimum of 7 federally sentenced women who are remanded in custody (in the region) awaiting transfer to EIFW.
Local EFry: The Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton has a local Federal Prison Liaison who visits EIFW weekly (and provides on-going support and advocacy to federally sentenced women in the community as well). This position is not funded through CSC. This position has rekindled EFry Edmonton’s partnership with EIFW, and has demonstrated a greater need for this support.
Concerns:
Not surprisingly, population management and control has and continues to be an overwhelming concern. The population size lends itself to many of the concerns in EIFW at present.
- PFV
The Private Family Visiting Unit is now housing 9 women, and very uncomfortably. This means that the PFV is not being used for private family visits. Instead, the institution is doing their best to accommodate family visits in the V&C area (with extended visiting times). We know that the Warden and the Administration see this as a last option scenario; however, with no end in sight in the increasing population, we are deeply concerned.
Lack of PFV visits is a very large stressor for the women themselves. Many of the women are gravely disappointed, not being able to spend this private and quality time with their families. Undoubtedly, this has a larger impact on the morale of the institution.
- Citizen Escorts
Lack of trained citizen escorts means that women are not able to fully participate in their escorted temporary absences. This affects their parole preparation. For a few of their women, lack of escorts means that they do not feel comfortable going for parole because they feel that they will be denied, and are therefore choosing to wait for their statutory release date, and for some, their warrant expiry. The EFry Edmonton has several trained CE staff, however there still are not enough escorts to accommodate all of the women. Unfortunately this means substantial disappointment for many of the women has often they are not told until the last minute that their trips are cancelled. We have not heard, however, of Lifers who have not been able to attend lifeline meetings. This is not to say it isn’t an issue, but we have not heard any such complaints.
- Renovations
Gradually, maintenance has been conducting renovations on the bathrooms in the houses. This means that during the day, the women are forced to leave their houses and are placed in a room (gym, classroom, etc) for the day with mats on the floor. It felt much like a shelter during this time with many of the women spending their days laying on a mattress in the gym all day. It also created significant problems with movement and accessing supports. Administration has changed the approach to the renovations and we believe it is much smoother of a process now.
- Max Unit Overcrowding
The Maximum Security Unit is now so over-crowded that the professional visiting room is being used to house women. This room is unbelievably small with no privacy and without a washroom. Staff do their best to exercise the women staying in their, however it remains deplorable and inhumane. When speaking with the Administration about the Max over-crowding we were told that they are preparing for double bunking in each unit and will be installing bunkbeds. There is no end in sight…
- APR
Similar across the country, the changes to Accelerated Parole has left many women feeling devastated, and is also contributing to the institution’s overcrowding.
To manage the population, the Administration is accommodating transfer requests as soon as they can. However, this means that many women are choosing to do their time elsewhere, thereby separating themselves for their community supports just to escape the overcapacity challenges in EIFW.
Regional Psychiatric Center Compiled by Caroleen Wright
RPC has increased a few of their programs for women, Elders have more access and RPC is trying to increase employment opportunities for the women.
The women remain isolated in the mostly male institution and are often far from home and do not receive many visitors.
The tension between security and delivering mental health and psychiatric services remains ongoing, security seeming to still trump mental health care. We continue to press for alternatives placements for those with mental health challenges, such as a forensic center in the community. We continue to express concern regarding the very long stays in IPC.
We are very glad to report we were able to start our Volunteer Program at RPC this year; this gives us much more access to the women and opportunity to build more consistent and supportive relationships.
The E Fry staff and volunteers will be providing opportunities to socialize while exploring creative, educational and fun activities.
CSC states they are interested in integration services. We are still pursuing funds both locally and regionally to provide reintegration services to women from RPC as well as throughout the region at EIFW and Okimaw Ohci.
RPC Advocate Updates - May 2011
Present Population: 13
Segregation 0 Remand 1
Maximum 5 Provincial/Territorial 1
Medium 5
Minimum 1
Use of Pinel board, under what circumstance, how often used, policy and procedure
The Pinel Restraint System (PRS) is what is currently used. The PRS refers to a series of belts and restraints that are then attached to a board or a chair. The PRS is used under the authority of CD 843 to assist with stopping self-injurious behaviours when all other options have been unsuccessful.
Committees operating: The unit rep meets with the Social Program Officer who updates her Inmate Welfare Committee issues, as the female patients do not attend the Inmate Welfare Committee meetings due to the male population.
Current Programming: Coffee and Check-in, Mental Health Management, Anger Mgmt, CHOICES: An Alternative to Family Violence, substance use and abuse, Thinking and Doing, self-esteem, gym, school/library, Aboriginal, activity group; AA volunteers 1x week
New Initiatives: A review of employment opportunities for the female patients has led to a possibility of the female patients taking sole responsibility for the issuing of canteen to the entire institution. It is anticipated that this will provide 3-6 part-time canteen positions for the women which would allow them to have off-unit employment while still being able to attend on-unit programming.
Employment within the prison: All patients have a job on the unit except those in Intensive Psychiatric Care (IPC); 3 in laundry (Friday afternoons) and one patient has a job in housekeeping in the administration area.
Work Release; None
Health Services
Nursing and psychiatric services 24/ 7 (psychiatrist on call 24/7); general family physician as required who also makes referrals to specialists, dietician, optometrist and dentist available as required
Mental Health Services
Psychiatrist available on call 24/7; a contract psychologist one morning per week; unit social worker full-time
Any changes to protocol (i.e.: Family visits, visits)
Women can now have visitors on Saturday mornings as well 8:30 – 11am was added.
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 8:30 – 11am
Tues, Thurs, Sun 1- 3:30.
Spirituality
Elders available? The institution wants to hire two full-time Elders for the institution with one of them providing services on a half-time basis to the female patients. Right now both Elders attend the institution three days per week. Once the enhanced reliability screening applications have been approved they can both commence full-time duties.
Spiritual practices? With the Elders the women engage in Pipe ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, feasts, and talking circles. They also can smudge on their own and Audrey continues to smudge with them when asked.
The Chapel volunteers come to the unit each week and meet with the patients as a group or individually.
Any special events or new initiatives you would like to share?
The staff and patients are appreciating the increased presence of Elizabeth Fry staff and volunteers on the unit to assist with community support and to provide advocacy services.
Anything Elizabeth Fry Society could assist with?
Continue assisting with discharge planning and advocacy work for the patients.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Prairie Regional Advocate Team