Prisoner Support Pt. 2

Prisoner Justice Day

Prisoner Justice Day is an annual and international event commemorated in several countries since 1976 when it was started in Canada. It is held in remembrance of all those who have died in prison whether through suicide, murder by prison officers or other inmates, or death because of neglect and brutality.

This year there was a national demonstration on the 7th August , outside HMP Woodhill a control unit in Milton Keynes, used to house 'subversive' prisoners, who can be arbitrarily confined until they 'progress'. On the 11th prisoners from around the country took various forms of action, including 24 hour work and hunger strikes in solidarity with prisoners in Woodhill.

Great Escapes

* In Mexico in '95, at the Claya Prison, prison guards got a bollocking after 6 prisoners escaped by jumping over the wall using a trampoline during one of their keep fit sessions.

* Jean Paul Barret was serving 33 years for forgery and fraud in Tucson, Arizona until his somewhat early release in December 91 when someone faxed a fake release order to the prison. Even though it lacked a code or a phone number, they bought it. It was believed that someone got hold of a real court order, tippexed out some of the information, copied it then typed in the false release order. It was three days until anyone noticed the mistake.

* On 25 June 1999, two asylum seekers detained in Campsfield Detention Centre decided to give themselves permanent admission to the UK, via a back window in the detention centre. One Russian and one Kosovan, scaled a 18 foot high fence, topped with 3 coils of barbed wire and disappeared into the country side.