My New Year's Resolution

"Percolated" cafe-chair-made "Eiffel Tower" at Le Bourget, Paris, France, December 2015

Among the jillion details waiting for me when I got back from Paris was the training I needed to take because I volunteered to be redeployed in the event that Ontario Correctional Services staff go on strike - which they may very well do on January 10, 2016.

Having learned lessons during the last strike, when managers were dropped into the middle of correctional facilities without a lot of information to help them deal with their new circumstances - and left there for more than fifty days - this time, the government decided to err on the other side.

Over the course of two and a half days, public service managers heard about everything correctional-institution-related from "when is the period of highest risk for offender suicides?" to "what to wear when patrolling the halls." 

Hundreds took the training, which was offered live to about 200 people in a big meeting room in Queen's Park and by webcast to many more in locations across the province.

While two trainers answered questions in the room, another trainer answered questions online. People watching online - including me - could see the online answers, but not the questions.

Most people don't volunteer to go to jail. But when they do, these answers to unseen questions reveal what's on their minds:

• You may bring your topper if it is for a single bed.
• Yes there will be sheets provided and a blanket.
• Bring layers, the jails can be cold especially in the evening.
• Yes you will have access to a fridge.
• You could possibly do laundry every day if you like!
• Yes there will be a TV/lounge staff area.
• No you can not bring in a queen size bed mattress.
• You may bring sleeping bags.
• You may bring some food such as protein bars. Do not bring in groceries. Space is limited.
• Yes...you may bring in any technology that you prefer.
• The type of lock for storage does not matter...combination or key.
• Please do not use your own vehicle.

I won't be in the country on January 10, so who knows when or where I will be deployed. While it is not likely - due to my physical impairment - that they'll put me on patrol duty inside a super jail, it is 100% likely that I will be brought in to assist in some fashion for some period of time. Wherever it is, it will be intense.

And this is why, although it is almost entirely beyond my control to keep it, my New Years resolution is to stay out of jail in 2016.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen