This special issue of the Journal of Prisoners on Prisons, titled "Dialogue on Canada's Federal Penitentiary System and the Need for Change", features dozens of contributions written by criminalized men and women currently incarcerated in Correctional Service Canada (CSC) institutions. The writings document the counterproductive changes to federal imprisonment made by the previous federal government. These incarcerated writers seek to contribute to the reflections of Justice Canada as it conducts a review of the penal system and to the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights as it engages in a study about the treatment of prisoners in CSC penitentiaries. Individual prisoners and Inmate Committees from CSC institutions in the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairie and Pacific regions who participated in this dialogue collectively express hope that the Government of Canada will move away from the punitive laws, policies, and practices. To this end, the issue includes several recommendations to be enacted in the short-term to improve the lives of those who are imprisoned and who work in federal penitentiaries while also benefitting Canadian society by contributing to public safety.

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CO-MANAGING EDITORS

Prisoners of Penal Intensification and Sunny Ways

Justin Piché and Kevin Walby ..................................................................1

DIALOGUE ON CANADA'S FEDERAL PENITENTIARY

SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR PENAL REFORM

DISPATCHES FROM FEDERALLY SENTENCED WOMEN

The Impact of the Conservative Punishment Agenda on Federally

Sentenced Women and Priorities for Social Change

Rachel Fayter and Sherry Payne ............................................................10

Établissement Joliette pour femmes

Comité des détenues ...............................................................................31

Grand Valley Institution for Women

Anonymous Prisoner 1 ...........................................................................34

Josephine Pelletier .................................................................................35

Fraser Valley Institution for Women

Anonymous Prisoners .............................................................................37

Stephanie Deschene ................................................................................40

Anonymous Prisoner 2 ...........................................................................43

Anonymous Prisoner 3 ...........................................................................45

Anonymous Prisoner 4 ...........................................................................49

DISPATCHES FROM THE ATLANTIC REGION

Dorchester Institution

Daryl Haug .............................................................................................56

Michael Leblanc .....................................................................................57

Anonymous Prisoner 5 ...........................................................................69

David W. Threinen ..................................................................................74

In the Community

Hyper A'Hern .........................................................................................80

DISPATCHES FROM THE QUEBEC REGION

Port Cartier Institution

T.B. ..........................................................................................................96

Anonymous Prisoner 6 .........................................................................102

Anonymous Prisoner 7 .........................................................................106

Établissement de Cowansville

Comité des détenus / Maxime Guillemette, Guy Tousignant,

Daniel Loyer, Mario Ethier et Ricky Hankey .......................................110

DISPATCHES FROM THE ONTARIO REGION

Bath Institution

Josephy Joseph / Inmate Committee Chairman ...................................114

Beaver Creek Institution (minimum)

Anonymous Prisoner 8 .........................................................................131

Anonymous Prisoner 9 .........................................................................142

Anonymous Prisoner 10 .......................................................................145

Anonymous Prisoner 11 ........................................................................147

Anonymous Prisoners ...........................................................................148

Salomonie Jaw ......................................................................................150

Anonymous Prisoner 12 .......................................................................151

Anonymous Prisoner 13 .......................................................................157

Anonymous Prisoner 14 .......................................................................159

A.C.C.L. ................................................................................................160

Dirk Young ............................................................................................169

DISPATCHES FROM THE PRAIRIE REGION

Stony Mountain Institution

William Allan Beaulieu .........................................................................172

Saskatchewan Penitentiary

Anonymous Prisoner 15 .......................................................................177

Anonymous Prisoner 16 .......................................................................178

Riverbend Institution

1417 ......................................................................................................179

Drumheller Institution

Anonymous Prisoner 17 .......................................................................183

Anonymous Prisoner 18 .......................................................................185

Anonymous Prisoner 19 .......................................................................189

DISPATCHES FROM THE PACIFIC REGION

Mission Institution

Anonymous Prisoners ...........................................................................192

Trevor D. Bell .......................................................................................198

Anonymous Prisoner 20 .......................................................................224

Simon Chow / Inmate Welfare Committee Chairman ...........................232

G.C. .......................................................................................................234

J.D. .......................................................................................................235

P.R. ........................................................................................................236

Ronald Small ........................................................................................238

Mountain Institution

Joe Convict for the Inmate Welfare Committee ....................................243

Joe Convict ...........................................................................................247

R. Mark Simpson ..................................................................................261

Kent Institution

Anonymous Prisoners ...........................................................................266

RESPONSE

More Stormy Weather or Sunny Ways?

A Forecast for Change by Prisoners of the Canadian Carceral State

Jarrod Shook and Bridget McInnis ......................................................269

APPENDIX

Call for input and/or submissions

Justin Piché, Bridget McInnis and Jarrod Shook .................................303

PRISONERS' STRUGGLES

Prisoners' Legal Services on Segregation

Simon Cheung .......................................................................................305

Call for Artwork - 50th Anniversary /

Oeuvres d'art recherchées - 50e anniversaire

uOttawa Criminology / Criminologie ...................................................312

COVER ART

"Maple Leaf" (front cover)

Peter Collins .........................................................................................314

"If You Build It..." (back cover)

Peter Collins ...............................................................................................314

Justin Piché est professeur agrégé au Département de criminologie de l'Université d'Ottawa.