IMPACT

Veronica

Veronica served 5 years in prison. She talks about a remand centre that is not designed for women and about her trial for a murder charge. Why didn’t she want her family to be there for her? About the process of learning from the ‘inside’ how to survive contact visits and afford phone calls. About missing policies and procedures that can help people in prison get the information they need to avoid losing loved ones. 

Matthew

Matthew served 2,5 years in prison. He talks about stigma and social consequences associated with the crime of ‘computer-based pedophilia” (use of content related to the sexual exploitation of children). Mathew talks about losing family, friends, work and home. Also about fear for his safety and the CJS's mistakes and, in his opinion, wrong pathways to rehabilitation of sex offenders. 

Josh Story

Josh served multiple prison times and is currently on parole, accommodated in a Men’s shelter in Hobart. He talks about his childhood trauma, his mother, his relationship, his children and the struggle with mental health while being exposed to different facets of the Criminal Justice System in Tasmania.

Emma Dillon, team Leader HIPPY program.

Emma Dillon, team Leader HIPPY (the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) talks about her work inside the Risdon prison, focusing on the example of one of her clients - the father with many years of experience in and out of jail while navigating his fatherhood of multiple children, foster care system and the latest reunion with a 6-year-old boy.  

Queen Monty

Queen Monty is the partner of J, who served 11 years in prison after being granted parole (early release where the prisoner agrees to abide by certain conditions) that has been then revoked multiple times. She talks about her family's experience. Her solitude and the ongoing struggle to maintain a meaningful relationship with her partner.

Bob Bearman

Bob Bearman talks about how twenty-one years in prison cut him off from family life. “My daughter was 13 when I went inside.” About how the prison ‘applied punishment on the top of the sentence” by obstructing contact visits or availability of phone calls. About how other prisoners were cut off from their loved ones, struggled with mental health and attempted to commit suicide.

Miriam

Miriam Oxford talks about her son, who is serving time in prison. About her life, her brother's incarceration, and what happened in 2008 and the following trial. How the Criminal Justice System treated her and her family. About the reality of being the mother of a prisoner serving 11 years in Risdon Prison in Hobart, Tasmania. 

Alesha