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Women Dying
Post Release
Campaign Newsletter
Contact: Victorian Deaths in Custody Watch Committee,
P.O Box 1467, Collingwood 3066. E-mail: pjan@vicnet.net.au
http://www.geocities.com/custodywatch
February 2000...
Action on Women Dying After Release from Prison
It is Important that YOU get active and take a stand for women's lives. Women are dying on a daily/weekly basis within hours, days and months of leaving prison. There are just about NO pre-release supports, information or education; there are just about NO post-release supports, services nor information.
CAMPAIGN MEETINGS are now running to organise a week of direct actions and commemoration on women dying post release.
Next meeting:
WHEN: 2nd March [Thursday].
WHERE:Darebin Community Legal Centre, 80 High Street, Northcote 3070.
TIME: 6.30pm
How many more women have to die before something is done?
Welcome to the 1st edition of the 'Women Dying After Release From Prison' Campaign Newsletter. The aim of the newsletter is to provide information regarding the campaign, what's going on and how YOU can help.
As a response to the growing concern for the number of women who are dying after release from prison, the first campaign meeting was held on 20th January at Darebin Community Legal Centre in Northcote. An alliance of alarmed and outraged friends and family of women who have died and women who are currently in prison, community members, activists, students, ex-prisoners, members of various community organisations, unionists, academics and concerned supporters came together to discuss the problems women face in prison and what can be done to stop women dying after release from prison.
A second campaign meeting was held on 3rd February, again at Darebin Community Legal Centre in Northcote.
During both meetings a number of key issues and strategies for the campaign were discussed. The following draft aims for the campaign were presented in the first meeting and it was agreed that these would provide the framework for the campaign. To date these draft aims are:
a] To increase community awareness and education around the issues of women dying post release
b] To demand pre and post release services and supports for women
c] To end the deaths of women post-release
d] To remind us and the community that women are in prison and why.
CAMPAIGN WEEK OF ACTION
A number of great suggestions were made regarding campaign ideas for the week of action. These are:
- Commemoration outside of the prison
- Theatrical Presentations
- Website
- Outreach/Talks
- Visual Arts/Displays
- Information stall at 'Young Women's Health Seminar'
- Live broadcasts on 3CR
- Petition
- Information Stalls
- Campaign Newsletter
- Forum held at university
- List of Demands
- Audio-taped information regarding the campaign and issues
- Posters
- Benefit Gigs
- Information Pack regarding Pre and Post-release Services and Support
- Telephone Tree
Action subcommittees have been formed to assist preparation for the campaign week. If you would like to be involved with a particular action, the volunteer contacts for particular ideas/events to date are:
|
Action |
Contact Details |
|
Theatre/Performing |
Karen |
|
Art Work/Exhibits |
Dot:
c/o Dallas @ Flat Out |
|
Posters |
Singh |
|
Petition |
Jim |
|
Action at Prison |
Vivienne
& Singh |
|
Vigil |
Catherine
& Vivienne |
|
Newsletter |
Cherry:
9479-3684 |
|
Web Site |
Daryl |
|
Demands |
Catherine Ph: [H] 9317-7818 |
If you would like to be involved with any of the actions, or have any other ideas contact Catherine on [H]: 9317 -7818 or [W]: 9489-6276 or Fax: 9489-2663.
Women are Dying - Its Time to Take a Stand for Women's Lives!
Although the deaths of women shortly after leaving prison have been identified for a long time as a source of considerable concern, it is a problem that has yet to be recognised by Government, prisons, prison operators and other correctional agencies despite the fact that:
- Between 1987 and 1997, at least 93 women have died shortly after leaving prison in Victoria alone
- 73% of these deaths were drug related, and nearly 50% died less than three months after being released. 13% died within two days of release.
- In the last six weeks alone, 8 women have died shortly after release from the Metropolitan Women's Correctional Centre. Some within hours/days of release.
- To date there has been no public recognition of these deaths and it raises the question about the duty of care [or lack of it!] within the prison system and the immediate post-release period.
- Housing, health, employment and financial assistance are major barriers facing women leaving prison. As a consequence, women leave prison with no place to go, no money, no food, no clothes, without their children and family, and with little or no support.
- Women Prisoners are the most disadvantaged in our society. Most come from backgrounds of extreme social economic disadvantage; sexual, physical and/or mental abuse; unemployment and minimal education.
- The impacts of powerlessness, deprivation, brutality, assaults and exclusion in prison have devastating affects on women prisoners, their lives and their deaths.
VICTORIAN DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE
BENEFIT GIG
Saturday 26 February 2000
8pm
PINK PALACE
56 Eastment Street Northcote
$5
ALL AGES WELCOME!
Bands include: Deconsume, Vivian Girls, VC, Stench of Wood & Bigots.
[All proceeds are being kindly donated to VDICWC, and there will be speakers & an information table at the gig]
WEB SITE NEWS
The new web site is now up and running. To ensure that the site can be accessed by all it has been designed to be deliberately low tech and does not use frames. This means that the site is easy to view and easy to maintain. As the campaign builds the web site will grow and will provide regular updated information. To date the site provides information on future campaign meetings, the current situation and what YOU can do to help. Future plans for the site include:
- the campaign's aims & demands
- an on-line petition
- summary of minutes taken from campaign meetings
- the campaign newsletter
- upcoming actions
- a noticeboard for comments and letters
- details of MWCC contracts and policies that affect women in prison
- reports and latest research
- links to other prison campaigns both nationally and internationally.
Further suggestions for web site content are welcome. If you would like any information put onto the web site contact: Daryl on: 9480-4407
e-mail: darylallan@hotmail.com
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY-BASED CONSULTATIONS
'Women, Health and Imprisonment: Pre and Post-Release Issues'
The research project 'Women, Health and Imprisonment: Pre and Post-Release Issues' seeks to identify the nature and extent of women's post-release mortality in Victoria. As part of this research, we would like to hear from individuals, community groups and agencies who have first hand experience and/or knowledge of women's post-release mortality and the health and welfare problems that confront women during and after imprisonment. In particular, we are interested in gathering information and suggestions useful for the development of specific policies and strategies that will promote positive change.
Contributions can be made in the following ways:
- Through the provision of a written submission and/or the supply of other written material
- Through interview, either individually or as a member of a larger group
- Through involvement in a focus group
All information gathered during this process will be treated as strictly confidential and anonymity will be preserved at all times. If you or your organisation would like to contribute to this project, please contact any of the following people at: School of Law and Legal Studies, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083:
Dr Sue Davies [Chief Investigator] Ph: [03] 9479-1253
Ms Sandy Cook [Chief Investigator] Ph: [03] 9479 -1761
Ms Kylie Shacklock [Research Assistant] Ph: [03] 9479 - 2320
CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER
We need up to date information about the campaign, direct actions, events and the issues.
If YOU have any ideas about what you want to see in the newsletter, or have information about upcoming actions, events or meetings, or would like to contribute personal stories, writings, poems, artwork or comments to the newsletter please contact:
Cherry: 9479-3684 / 9481-1547 - c.grimwade@latrobe.edu.au
Natalie: 9489-3635 - n.blok@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au
COME ALONG AND HELP OUT!
Campaign Information Table
WHERE: 'Young Women's Health Conference', in the Yvonne Bowden Auditorium, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan St,Carlton.
WHEN: 22nd & 23rd March[Weds/Thurs]
TIME: 9.30 - 5pm
CONTACT: Mel Ph: 9315-1566/0413-880-565 E-mail: mi@deakin.edu.au
Info about the week of action,campaign demands and petition,as well as info on prison issues, & pre and post release services willbe available from the stall.
If you have any information you would like displayed on the table or
can help out at any stage during the 2 days please contact Mel on 9315-1566
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