All Things Criminal: Recent Episodes
Amber Carlsson
All Things Criminal covers everything you need to know about the criminal justice system in Canada. We talk with people about their experience in the system: how they got there, their advice if you end up there, and what comes after.
Today's episode discusses the r v. Brown trial and has law student Mackenzie Walker break down the legal jargon needed to understand the case. We address the misinformation spreading on social media and the problem of infographics and click bait.
Twigger warning: assault, sexual assault
Episode 14 discusses the Prisoners Correspondence Project, a Montreal based organization that matches inmates up with pen pals on the outside. This episode features Scott, a pen pal volunteer, who chats with us about the project and its LGBTQ focus. For more information or to sign up to be a pen pal visit https://prisonercorrespondenceproject.com/
Episode 13 explores Pawsitive Support: A Canine Assisted Learning Prison Program which was brought to our attention by Todd in episode 7. Featured are the incredible women who founded this program: Dr. Colleen Dell and Dr. Darlene Chalmers. Both Professors share the research behind the dog therapy program and provide insight into what they look like and the effect it had on participants.
Season 2 kicks off with Aidan’s story of Canada’s culture of silence. We explore the mental health of veterans to call on Canada for better support services. And if you’re reading this today (SEP 20): GO VOTE <3
Veterans Affairs Canada- Mental Health Services: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support/mental-health-and-wellness
Veterans Affairs Canada- Counselling Services:
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support/mental-health-and-wellness/counselling-services
Legion- Mental Health and PTSD:
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support/mental-health-and-wellness/counselling-services
American Psychiatric Association: PTSD
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
NATO Association of Canada: https://natoassociation.ca/neglecting-military-mental-health-care-post-afghanistan/
Toronto News Article: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/through-training-and-research-u-t-seeks-improve-mental-health-outcomes-canada-s-veterans
Today's episode is part 2 of our mini series and features Jake Lewis and Alexandre Vachon who discuss the incarceration of blackness in Canada.
Part 1 of this mini series discusses the history of conjugal visits in Canada and the U.S. It breaks down common misconceptions to the program and discusses why they are so important.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains topics of violence & murder
Today's episode features James Ruston who shares his story and what it's like to come to terms with serving a life sentence.
This week's episode features Ray Lawinger who shares his story of 101 bank robberies and 28 years in the Canadian prison system. You can find Ray's book on Amazon called "Freedom of the Few: The True Story of the Take Back Bandit".
Episode 7 features Todd’s journey through 12 years in prison. Todd shared with us his stories from Edmonton max, advice on what to do in prison, and how he got sober and turned his life around. This episode is celebrating Todd as he is officially off parole this week and is now engaged and working with the University of Saskatchewan on research for prison reform!
Today’s episode features an anonymous guest and discusses the COVID-19 pandemic within Canadian Prisons.
I understand we all have COVID fatigue …AND I GET IT! However, Covid within our prisons affects us all, and the current outbreaks and conditions within the walls right now are being kept out of the public attention. Prisoners are in constant lockdowns (which removes their access to basic hygiene practices like daily showers), they do not have reliable access to essentials like soap or hand sanitizer, and their access to legal counsel has been disrupted.
Please check out the Toronto Prisoners’ Rights Project Press Release on the topic below and please sign the petition for the Maplehurst Hunger Strike to demand action from the prison regarding the current COVID outbreak:
https://www.torontoprisonersrightsproject.org/hunger-strike-maplehurst?fbclid=IwAR1jNelDpZ1AtxNn5UNCavlgarnpk7d-eLTyk_VeaL-H1dRJNngSRqrvzXE
https://www.facebook.com/107969144076334/videos/180851433573780
Today's episode takes an emotional break and engages with Mackenzie Walker who shares tips to know when being detained, the run down on criminal defense, and why this area of law is so important.
Today's episode features Heather Mason from Strength in Sisterhood, where we dive into the history and current issues surrounding the incarceration of women.
Resources:
Strength in Sisterhood: https://www.strengthinsisterhood.net/
Elizabeth Fry Society: https://www.cefso.ca/aboutus.html
Article on Strip Searches: https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/savannah-gentile
Government link to information on ‘Female Offenders’: https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-2008-eng.shtml
Trigger Warning: Suicide
This Episode features Laureen St. Amour who shares her story and the larger picture of the suicide epidemic among incarcerated individuals in Canada.
Resources:
Locked Up, Gone, But Never Forgotten: https://www.facebook.com/groups/372120320101209
Criminalization and Punishment Education Project (CPEP): https://cp-ep.org/who-we-are/
Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 833-456-4566
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups across Canada: https://thelifelinecanada.ca/survivors-suicide-loss-support-groups/
Episode 2 Dives speaks with Brandon Jarvis about the mental journey of incarceration. He exposes a huge failing of the system and discusses yoga and its role in recovery and growth post prison.
This intro episode covers what All Things Criminal is all about and gives a little background on me and why I started this.