Prison was a life changing experience

From 19A

there is just different from when you outside, is like sometimes even the sub use to feel different. “One of the reasons, most of us are mothers some realise their actions, some willing to change some not willing. And when you study your family, many of the days does be very emotional. And times like Christmas and those days use to be really, really sad,” she said sadly.

But she bounced back quickly.

“The beautiful part of it—the officers used to make sure the women have to get the place clean, the toilets had to be clean and we had to wash our clothes. You had people doing different things every day, you know, some cleaning, some farming, some cooking, some sewing but I was always cooking, she said with a laugh.

“And we always had to be neatly dressed, our hair combed, you can’t be smelling and looking anyhow and you always had to find something constructive to do.”

I just had to ask if it was true that there were sexual assaults in the system as is the word on the street.

“Man, no. Yes, you had women use to have sex with each other, but is not like anybody raping you or anything. “There was this one dangerous very skinny girl who use to have sex with a lot of women and then the next day she would be holding up a piece of cardboard with the inmate name walking all over so people could know what happened. “She was this spiteful girl, had no respect or care for anyone… but she never tried them things with me,” and I saw a streak of hardness when she delivered the last words.

“You know what they use to call me? Animal Kingdom,” she said even before I thought about answering.

“That was because they said I always behave like an animal but you had to do that because they would take advantage of you. I never use to mix, I never use to go to nobody bed space and I never use to encourage anyone to come by my bed space.” I asked her how she felt when she received the news that she was leaving the prison. She was paroled four months before her sentence was up.

“Oh God, it was like heaven, you know you going back outside. It was the happiest time in my life. And what I have experienced is that most of the people like two weeks before they are coming out they tend to fall sick, you know like they so anxious. But me I know one day before I come out.

“I got paroled, so it was sudden, but I holler up bad when I hear. I was in the kitchen, matron said, ‘I come to give you a search…don’t move stay right here.’ But then she said parole call and say you going home tomorrow. I was so happy, I holler and cry.”

Do you want to go back? I asked.

“Not ever!” she exclaimed.

There is more to tell but for this piece we just focused on her time in the prison system.

As I said this sister continues her journey and while it has not been easy she remains positive. Kudos sister!