ABSTRACT
This chapter, co-written by a a former prisoner serving a life sentence and a criminology professor, presents a unique perspective on his trajectory through the prison and parole systems while serving a life sentence. Danny’s story of obtaining, losing, regaining and living on parole, as well as the struggles he faced in his process of resettlement once finally released, interjected with commentary from Melissa, illustrates the history and policy behind parole processes. What this chapter demonstrates is that Indigenous persons are disadvantaged in this process, despite the system’s claims of being culturally sensitive. The authors use the example of Elder-Assisted Parole Hearings, a neo-colonial practice, to illustrate problems with this approach, and how upon return to the community, few culturally appropriate supports appear to be available for Indigenous former prisoners, and in particular how racism and insensitivity persist. As the authors note, without a financially supported, trauma-informed, community-based commitment to expanding culturally appropriate services in prison and in the communities to which former prisoners return, the fate of Indigenous people on parole will not be improved.
