My name is Mel. In July, my partner overdosed while I was locked up in Tasmania. The staff there were amazing.
However, a month later I was extradited back to Sydney and my sister died of covid. I was devastated and to make matters worse, I was my partner’s next of kin, and I couldn’t get anything done from prison. It took me five months to get him cremated.
If I was not so strong willed, I swear I would not be here today. I believe there should be more training of the staff to deal with these kind of tragedies for inmates, as I had very, very, very little help in all aspects of this situation.
I believe this contributed to me getting out and reoffending as I had no idea how to deal with the grief or being out all alone.
I remember asking for help but feeling like no-one was listening.
We may be criminals, but we also cry at night.
