Risdon Prison just outside Hobart is one of the country’s most notorious jails.
It’s known for its infamous inmates, including Port Arthur killer Martin Bryant and criminal-turned-celebrity Mark ‘Chopper’ Read. It’s frequently the scene of riots, sieges and suicides, and prisoners’ groups claim that human rights abuses happen on a daily basis – from food and clothes shortages to prisoners being charged rent on their cells.
But there are green shoots at Risdon in the form of a groundbreaking new program that aims to reconnect prisoners with their kids through storytelling.
Last October – exactly a year ago – a handful of prisoners began reading storybooks aloud and recording them on to CD. The CD was sent home to their children, along with the story book. Now more than 100 prisoners are involved. Prison educators hope the program may go some way to chipping away at generational crime, unemployment and low levels of literacy.
In this program journalist Erin O’Dwyer takes us inside the razor wire that surrounds Risdon Prison to speak to prisoners about their own stories. We also hear the stories of their families and their children. In this rare glimpse into life behind bars we hear what difference stories make. And how stories might just heal the pain.
You can listen to Erin’s documentary from October 2009 on ABC RN here.