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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - A7 Prison trying to open doors for female offenders biewell spent. >4 hats flhe goal for cach of the woIfen iîncarcerated at thic Vanier Centre for Womnen. îj On any given day, 320 lemale offenders are housed at the Martin Street facility that's part of the Maplehursi Correctional Complex.abuasmnwoelavgth Fach week, therearabuasmn oelavgth medium and maximum-security prison as there are women admitted to it. The number roughly sits at 100 coming in and going out weekly About hall of the women leaving are released at court, 25 per cent have completed their sentence and the remaining 25 per cent are either released on bail, facing immigration hear- ings, given parole conditions, transfer-red to, a halfway house or granted temporary absence. For each of these women, efforts are made among Vanier's correctional staff, psychologists, social workers, nurses, psy- chiatrist, volunteers and chaplatn to ensure they leave in a far more stable mental, physical and emotional state than when they amrved. To gain further insight into how this is donc, representa- tives from the legal system, social services agencies, vicîim services, immigration advocaîes and media were recentix inviied to learn more about the prison's inner workings. Vanier is the onlv exclusively female prison in the province. Il opencd in 2003 after women's jails in Toronto, Kingston and Brantford wverc closed. The women sent there by the courts arc eithei awaîting trial or serving sentences tînder two years. For many of the women, the complete medical examn given to each newly-admitted prisoner is the lîrst theNIve hiad in their adult fle, and diagnoses of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hîgh blood pressure or HIV are news to them. Makîng their cell bed each morning, sittîng down to eat a meal and adhering to dailv hvgiene are hahits sonne liaven't leamied or lîved by in a long lime, if ever. Skills most people take for granted, such as how to muiti ate, engage and end a conversation peacefully, or learning healthy ways to pass the tîme through exercîse and crafts, and solvîng problems; without resorting 10 crime or anger are taught. "Effective integraton is the goal of each of the programs," saîd Donna Keating, Vanier's superintendent. A published sîudy by sociologist and cniminologîsî Dr. Margaret Shaw is one of only a few that examines Ontanio women in confliet wtth the law Released in 1994, Shaw dis- covered that poverty, unemploymenî and faîîily violence propel Canadian women into crime. Specifically she report- ed that: - Almost hall of women incarcerated committed property offences. a Si.xty-nine per cent of female inmates have children under age 16 and 80 per cent of themn are single parents. " So far, about 15 chîldren have been born to inmates. " Hall were sexually abused as children and 61 per cent were in adulthood. e Seventy-nine per cent of the women in prison have a serious problem with drugs or alcohol, and substance abuse (alcohol, prescription drugs, street drugs or a mixture of sub- stances) us associated -wiîh their offendîng in some way - Two-thirds have no high sehool diploma, and 30 per cent didn't complete grade 10. - Two-thirds weren't working at the timie they committed the crimes. GRAHAM PAINE CANADIAN CHAMPION Corrections officer Anita Heise (Ieft) shows Deputy Minister of Community Safety and Corrections Deborah Newman tome of the artwork done by nmates in a program at the Vanier Centre for Women during a recent open house. For its part, Vanier's programs intend 10 empower women by building akilîs and a sense of self-worth. Tbis is done through one-on-one and group counseling pursuis liii) skilks are giod ibrîrugli l.iiriscap'inig the 100- acre complex, a hairdressing coturse, cooking classes and aca- demîc upgrading. And community groups, încluding an AIDS support net- work, the Halton Board of Education and Alcoholics Anonymous, regularly provîde help to inmaîes. Due to the dispanty of Aborigînal women in provincial custody (five limes more than white women), Vanier bas a Native inmaîe liaison officer who runs the Native Sisters pro- gram. Il includes tradîtional sweat lodge ceremonies and talking circles. Communîîy eIders are also invited mbt the laciliîy, and the liaison offîcer advocaîes on behaîf of the Native population during court proceedings. AIl of these efforts illusîrate the 'positive potential impact of programming, as a means 10 unlock the door and decon- struet barriers faced by women entering Vanier," saîd Keating. Laulilil agi 1%a1~esmageane 's a,~k&IheaIh ad lellessMagzin Pnm leSt te righti Janie Cheont Marketing Manager, Bei Air Trase, " naas"It«ýHeath ad Welnes Magzine Liam Merdes-Dodgîon, Winner -M.J. Merdes, Rse Sapin, Pubilication Manager, Meirilaid's rive ii! Caniadas New Heath & Weiiness Magine. Fo naore infornaiion cail: M.J.s prize inlder Grand prizi il Lise-il lip gise-away csnlest conits of a 14 day'Highlights of Britaîn'tu fon tiiwo. inciuding ecintmny 4416493-300 xt M e a& Msinehm-tcaciain reîndlrp airare frîm Toroto. PRIZE VALtE: $7000. Tire tour DEADUNE FOR FALL ISSEE August 31 st, 2006 inctides Excursions & tîgtseeeg, Giided City Teins, Iinsigt Fnrs Ciass Delevered to specially selected households June 2006 sriead uyIîNSIG T www.Iive%-it.a 91 & AATON 1 BetArir