A little kindness in the prison system

I READ “Who are we locking up with these violent offenders?” by Lara Giddings and Jim Wilkinson (Talking Point, September 10). I should disclose I am Lara’s mother, but I have my own experience of working in the Justice Department, as a probation and parole officer and as a prison welfare office for the best part of 20 years. One thing I learnt was that “tough on crime” made people tougher. I believe that inside most people is a heart and we need to touch it. I recall one inmate who asked if

I would ring a detective to ask him to visit. I asked: “Are you sure a detective would visit you without some valid information for him?” He said he was sure he would come, that he was a good man. Sure enough, the detective said, “Sure, I’ll be over”. The inmate explained he had been caught shoplifting and when the detective arrested and charged him, he drove him home and asked to look in his kitchen cupboards. When he saw they were empty and he had a child to feed, he returned with a carton of groceries including bread and milk. The inmate told me, “I will be forever grateful for this man’s kindness and I will not let him down and offend again”.

I do not know if the kindness changed his life but I like to think it did for the benefit of him, his children and our community. Not that I scrutinise court lists any more, but the inmate’s name hasn’t jumped out at me again. A little kindness can be more effective than retribution.

Lynn Giddings

Pontville