Tonight, help us end the abuse of solitary confinement
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- Published on Thursday, 26 May 2016 18:00
- Written by editor
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Dear friends,
BobbyLee Worm was just 22 years old and a first time offender when she was placed in solitary confinement. She was confined to her cell for up to 23 hours a day, for months at a time. She spent a total of over three and a half years in solitary confinement.
Now, BobbyLee is working to reform the abuse of longterm solitary confinement in Canadian prisons.
Tonight, BobbyLee is speaking with guests at the 2016 Liberty Awards Gala to try to raise $10,000 in support of the BCCLA's landmark court case to end longterm solitary confinement.
We have asked the 250 guests at tonight's Liberty Awards to raise $5000, and we're asking the online community to match it. Can we beat the guests in the room?
CAN YOU HELP US TO RAISE $5000 TONIGHT? CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW.
Together, BobbyLee and acclaimed filmmaker Kevin Eastwood have put together a short video about BobbyLee's experience. Please watch, and share this video.
In Canada, one out of every four prisoners in the federal prison system has spent some time in solitary confinement. At any given time, there are as many as 1800 people in solitary confinement in federal and provincial prisons.
Canadian prison expert Michael Jackson called solitary confinement “the most individually destructive, psychologically crippling and socially alienating experience that could conceivably exist within the borders of the country."
It has led to preventable death and suffering, but we can change how solitary confinement is practiced.
The BCCLA is calling for an end to indefinite placements, strict timelines for release, and independent oversight. We want to ensure that no one is locked away simply because their mental health issue makes them difficult to manage.
We know that change is possible. Two days after the BCCLA filed its lawsuit on behalf of BobbyLee she was removed from solitary. Shortly after, the government announced it would end the use of the program that had confined BobbyLee across Canada.
Sincerely,
Laura Track,
BCCLA lawyer
P.S. To reach $5000 we just need 5 gifts @$500, 10 gifts @ $100, and 25 gifts @ $60. We can do it!
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