Feb. 26, 2014
Ed Note: Today communiqué passes on a most moving story of the pain and worry behind imprisonment, especially of the mentally ill. In the letter below Farhat Rehman, the mother of Rehan, describes her concerns to Howard Sapers, the Correctional Investigator, following a visit with Rehan at Millhaven after the closure of the psychiatric unit at Kingston Penitentiary (RTC). The content matter is to be explored as well in a Power and Politics interview at 5 PM tomorrow, Feb. 27, between Farhat and Evan Solomon.
Smart Justice Network Canada is most grateful to Farhat for her permission to publish this letter and most appreciative of the personal courage involved in this public articulation of so personal an anguish, putting a human face on an issue affecting many more today.
Dear Mr. Sapers.
Greetings.
I am writing to echo your concerns that you so eloquently highlighted in your report last Monday.
As you may recall, my son Rehan Kurd was moved from Kingston Penitentiary RTC to Millhaven RTC in October of last year.
Since then, I am afraid his condition has deteriorated considerably. As things stand, I fear he will be the next statistic to join the growing number of casualties of Corrections.
I base this alarming view on my visit on February 20, when after waiting for 20 minutes, the officer came to the visiting area, took me to another office and informed me that my son was “comatose” and he could not get him to come out to visit.
The psychiatrist Dr. Hillen was called to speak to me. I expressed my concerns to him. He said my son was not comatose, but highly paranoid and showing anxiety. He has been on medications Respiridone and Lorazapam and they are making him drowsy. He actually suggested shock therapy, and said I would have to give them consent. This is something I am not prepared to do. I want to advocate for him to be placed outside of prison in a facility where he has access to other treatment in addition to drugs.
After an excruciating few minutes, the kind officer went back to try again by telling him his mother was here to visit.
After another 25 minutes went by and Rehan was brought out to a closed visit behind glass and the visit lasted just over an hour. He was unsteady on his feet, said he was hearing voices, and repeated things over and over again, convinced harm had come to his parents. I did the best I could to allay his fears. Then the visit was over.
The kind officers opened the door for me to hug him for 30 seconds before they took him away.
I am looking for help to plan the most effective course of action, and am willing to speak out. My son’s life is in danger, and I cannot sit idly by.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Farhat Rehman
Link for Power and Politics: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/Power+&+Politics+with+Evan+Solomon Related article (Howard Sapers assessment of care in prison for an aging population): Huffington Post – Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press Canadian Federal Prison Death Review Raises Questions About Quality Of Care http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/02/17/canada-federal-prison-death_n_4803138.html
Huffington Post – Catherine Dauvergne,
4 Troubling Things We Don’t Know About CBSA Detainee’s Death
Dauvergne, a professor of law at UBC, traces the troubling issues around the suicide in late December of Lucia Vega Jiminez, in immigration detention at the VancouverAirport. The legal issues include not only what happened, a murky scene at best, but whether her detention was legal at all and who was supervising her. Apparently, the CBSA had contracted the detention to a private agency. Given the secrecy involved to date, Dauvergne is calling for a public inquiry. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/catherine-dauvergne/lucia-vega-jiminez-questions-cbsa-inquest_b_4856089.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics&ir=Canada%20Politics
Slate Magazine (US) – Helen Vera
The Definitive Case for Ending Solitary Confinement
The author surveys the recent decision making against solitary by prison authorities and states. The commonplace reliance on solitary as a means of discipline is a failure, she says, and prisoners who spent three months or longer in solitary were not only more likely to reoffend but were much more likely to commit a violent crime. Here are the references to prove it. (Note: you must click on page 2 for the full story at this link.) http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/02/against_solitary_confinement_states_are_finding_it_s_impractical_as_well.html
YarmouthCounty Vanguard (NS)
RCMP hosts bullying and cyberbullying online session on Pink Shirt Day
Feb. 26 is Pink Shirt Day. The RCMP have a social media event and process (RCMP Talks) to help further the discussion among young people around bullying. In this case, Nico Archambault, a winner of the first session of So you think you can dance Canada, reflects on his bullying growing up as a male dancer. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cycp-cpcj/rcmptalks-discussionsgrc/index-eng.htm
Belfast Telegraph –
‘Perceptions of Crime: Findings from the 2012/13 Northern Ireland Crime Survey’ published today
Published by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice, the report looks at the perception of crime from the viewpoint of personal safety, the potential for victimization and the impact of fear of crime on the quality of life. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/debateni/press-feed/perceptions-of-crime-findings-from-the-201213-northern-ireland-crime-survey-published-today-30044388.html