I've been holding 12-Step meetings up at the "Cannery" for a few months. Each Monday, I show up for it. I didn't know what the hell I was getting in to, when I first joined the "Prisons Committee". I grabbed the Cannery commitment, and wouldn't let it go. The people who were in the know about prison commitments were amazed that I filled this particular one. Apparently, it's a rough time.

I walked in, the first time, having lost my guest speaker due to beaurocratic cock-ups. So I told my own story. We were in the day room of the general population, so there was fair amount of ambient sound. There was a sizable group to begin with, but in the end, there were six women who became the core of our meetings.

It's been a few months, but at this point, I may have a clue as to what the hell I'm doing there. I know now to ask the summer-time guards to announce the meetinng to the women in the trailers. And that I don't need to hold the meeting in the "Day Room", which was filled with strife, particularly after the population was "flipped".  The new women were aggressive, foul, noisy and territorially "pissing".  The older population was disgusted.

I got the meeting moved to a back trailer.  It got hot in there, because so many women were attending.  I've brought in a variety of speakers.  T. is a young, muscled, white male, who'd spent time in and out of the penal system.  He's about to court to face a three year old charge of DUI/DWI.  He may spend the required time in jail, as a repeat offender. ( But this is a program of attraction, and I worked at it's most base level)!  E. was a hard-core drinker, but the day she got sober, was waking up in a concrete cell, orange jump-suit and no idea how the hell she got there: twenty years ago.  A. is the insanely beautiful, blonde, tan, perfect girl that I would normally never associate with.  She wowed them, and wants to come back.

Everyone wants to come back.  It's a fantastic meeting.  I may break the "normal" rules, by letting a woman spill her gut for more than the "normal" five minutes, but crikey, it's magic!  These women let rip.  I've heard tell from a couple of inmates that some of them are getting high behind the walls, yet talking the sober walk.  I don't really care.  Shit, I went into this program, still using, and on September 6th. of this year, I'll have four years sober.  My thought is, you come to these meetings because you know there's a problem.  Or you're bored in jail.  But, something might sink in.  You may never consume in the same way again.

Plus, I don't play favourites.  Some of the women who want to work the program tell me about the others.  That they're getting high behind bars.  I'm not a teacher/warden/guard/social worker.  I don't give two shits.

But what slays me, is learning of guard-on-inmate sexual abuse.

*This original draft was saved before a parolee/sponsee of mine was released.  Once she got out, she detailed the sexual violence visited upon her, her girlfriend, and who knows how many others.  When she complained, she was removed to another area of the prison.  According to her, the treatment that she received there was less than favourable.  According to her Parole Officer, she was sent there to keep her safe from the abuse, and that he was willing to work with her to report this.  Trust me, I volunteered at Women Organized Against Rape:  I had her back.*