How Prison Mums Read Stories to their kids and The Short Sentence Paradigm

Today we hear from Carrie, who has grown so much as a result of our weekly Prison Creative Workshop. She looks at how prison effects Mothers, and how they have implemented a scheme to stop families suffering; and explains why there is a revolving door on the front of the prison.

Visits in prison are very important. We are lucky to be here because the prison is very family orientated. We are encouraged to keep in contact with our family.

Where I work, (the library), we offer a free service called Storybook Mums.

The ladies read a story into a recorder, which then gets put onto a computer. It then gets cleaned by yours truly. I take out all the background noise, remove any mistakes by the reader, and remove my hints etc… Once that is done I add music and sound effects to the clean version, mix it up some and then burn it to a CD and pass it off to the relevant kids.

It is a wonderful experience for the women when they want to hear the finished version, and often tears flow.

It’s such a privilege to do this job as I’m helping to keep mums and dads stay in touch with their children.

Prison doesn’t just affect those of us inside. There is a huge ripple effect and it’s the children who suffer the most.

So big up Storybook mums and dads. Big up the two of us who create the magic for families who live apart.

Some people wonder why girls are in and out of prison like a yo-yo.

There is a very simple answer. Too many silly sentences, like 2-4 weeks long and no time to be rehabilitated. I suddenly find myself in a situation where my rehabilitation back into society has been taken away from me.

In 2014, the government passed a law stating that any prisoner who poses a flight risk or is on the escapee list, may no longer be considered for open conditions. This includes me due to an attempt to escape, but who wouldn’t try after getting 99 years? When it comes to release, prisoners like myself will be kicked out the front gates and sent on their way.

I will have served 10 plus years before I get the chance to get out. Already the world has changed whilst I’ve been stuck in this micro community! I have no idea where to start. How will I cope on public transport? Where do I go to claim my benefits? Upon release we are given a travel warrant and £47. Not much to start a whole new life with.

In some way though, I’m luckier than others because I have to stay in a hostel for ex-cons. I’ll have support to a certain degree, but I fear that one wrong move and I’ll be right back inside. Rehabilitation my arse. Where is the justice in putting us through this confinement, only to be terrified to the point where we actually want to come back to prison? It costs so much money putting and keeping us locked up, so why not use some of that money to help us!

I’d love the Secretary of State to read this blog. Some of us have changed. Some of us want to have a life outside of these walls. I have a family and a partner waiting for me. Some of my family won’t see me released. I won’t get the chance to say my final farewells. Yes, it’s a punishment I’m in here, but should I be continually punished for the rest of my life? Always looking over my shoulder? Miss Secretary of State, for the love of God, give me a bloody chance! Let me show you what rehabilitation can do for people like me. Before my life ends and I’m buried in an unmarked grave!

If you would like to read more from our Creative Writing Workshop then please join Prose for free and subscribe to the Letters From Prison Portal. We are also on Twitter as @PoetsInPrison, have a Facebook page "Letters from Prison" and we’re on Instagram also as @PoetsInPrison.