Sorry for going MIA lately. I’ve been dealing with some prison-related matters that I will talk about in this blog post. This experience has opened my eyes in ways I never expected.
I never truly understood how important language is until now. The wording and tone used in a binding document or an expert opinion can shape someone’s future. A few sentences written by a professional can follow a person for years, sometimes for the rest of their life. That realization is both powerful and frightening.
It makes me wonder: do these experts carefully consider what they write, how they write it, and how their words will affect someone long-term?
If you have a loved one in prison, pay attention to every report they receive. Read it closely. Question it. Correct it immediately if something is wrong, because once it becomes part of their record, it follows them through the system. Fixing mistakes later can be much harder.
From what I’ve observed, institutions do not always like to take responsibility or acknowledge when something is lacking or when an error has been made. Recently, my partner and I reviewed a report written by a CXII and a case manager. As we read through it, we found statements that made us question whether the authors truly understood the situation or whether assumptions were made and information was copied and pasted without verification.
It is hard to trust a system when reports claim there is violence between my husband and me when that is not true. It is frustrating to read statements saying that my husband refuses to participate in programming when, in reality, the institution is not offering the program he needs. He even reached out to his CXII, someone who has never once introduced herself to him, yet a report was written full of conclusions about his behaviour.
At one point, the report stated that I was contacted for an interview that never happened. That left us confused and concerned. Why write something that can be easily disproven? Why create a record that does not reflect reality?
Maybe this is part of the process. Maybe many inmates and families never question what is written about them. But they should.
My husband and I believe in rehabilitation. We believe in accountability, growth, and second chances. He does not belong to the system forever. Something bad happened, yes, but he is not destined to be a repeat offender.
Questioning what is written about you is your fundamental right. You have the right to challenge the facts, the assumptions, and even the tone used in official reports. Words matter. They shape how people see you, how they think about you, how you are classified, and one of the biggest outcomes they can affect is your parole.
Please pay attention. Do not take institutional reports for granted. Systems can make mistakes, and sometimes they shift blame. Your vigilance, your voice, and your willingness to question inaccuracies can make a real difference.
Stay informed. Stay involved. And never be afraid to stand up for the truth.
DD
Leave a comment