Love Behind Bars

Have you ever been to prison, or do you know someone who has?

Key points:

Warning: This episode of She Wasn’t Born Yesterday contains references to graphic sexual activity, bodily harm and other heavy topics which may be distressing for some listeners. This episode is not for children and we advise caution. If you need support, please call 1800 Respect or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Life behind prison walls is tough – but it’s also really tough for loved ones on the outside.

Jo Giles’ partner was incarcerated – she generously shared some of her experiences with She Wasn’t Born Yesterday.

“Everything is dehumanising for him especially, but for anyone involved, you’re immediately considered either a victim or less than,” she said and explained that as family and friends of someone in jail, you’re treated differently.

Jo Giles’ partner was incarcerated – she generously shared some of her experiences with She Wasn’t Born Yesterday.

“It’s always ‘less than,'” she said.

You’re constantly put down in a way.”

As Jo explains, the corrections system isn’t set up to care for people – it’s set up as a form of punishment – for those inside, and in effect, those outside prison walls.

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“All of those things punish the people on the outside as well,

“It’s just not an easy thing to go through, and it should be a lot easier for the family.”

And often, the struggle doesn’t end after their release.

“One thing people don’t know outside of the system [is that] 98% of people inside get out, and they are neighbours and they are in our communities,” Jo said.

“98% of people inside get out… we really should be trying to look after them better.”

“We really should be trying to look after them better than we are, because they need to get back into society and a lot of them… don’t have anything.”

While her partner was in prison, Jo says she wrote to him daily.

“I posted a letter to him every day, which helped me get through it as well,” she said.

“It was like talking to him every night.

“So, he had so many things and constant visits.

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“There’s not many people who get visits every week.”

Jo’s advice to those of us in this situation: “They need to know they’re not alone – I think that’s the worst bit,” she said.

“No one talks about this… I’m probably quite rare in the fact that I am happy to talk about it.”

Listen to this episode of She Wasn’t Born Yesterday on the Hope 103.2 app, in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode of She Wasn’t Born Yesterday contains references to graphic sexual activity, bodily harm and other heavy topics which may be distressing for some listeners. This episode is not for children and we advise caution. If you need support, please call 1800 Respect or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro