OUR STORY
Every year, almost 10,000 families experience a family member’s entry into prison. Over the years, the number of such families would be quite substantial.
But where are they? Why do we hardly hear of them? How often do you come across families like them?
The Catch-22
When a member of the family goes to prison, drastic changes are brought upon the entire family. Family members face disruptions to their work and studies, social and personal life, as well as financial, psychological and physical wellbeing. These struggles are long lasting and often permanent.
However, opening up about their situation causes backlash of criticisms, ostracism and sometimes persecution. Not only are their existing struggles not eased, they have added to them. As such, they tend to keep mum and bear their own burdens.
The irony is that not speaking up furthers the lack of awareness that fuels such disparaging attitudes towards them, thereby keeping them mired in their struggles without support.
Breaking The Cycle
The family's experience of a family member getting caught up in the revolving doors of the prison. A revelation of what is typically shielded from public eyes, due to the thick cloak of shame worn by the families of offenders including the offenders themselves.
This first party account brings a different perspective to the existing narrative of criminal and drug offences, shredding stereotypes and typical assumptions. As criminal offending and substance abuse are not independent matters, this explores their contribution and causation. In that we can better devise preventive measures.
This is a story of a wife and mother's struggles as she navigates legal processes, substance addiction, adverse childhood experiences, toxic family dynamics, intergenerational offending, generational curses and more, often going against the grain to the tried and tested.