Content warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio descriptions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, discussion of deaths in custody, strip searches, and women in prison.
Today's broadcast is dedicated to all women in prison, and also women who have been formerly incarcerated. Marisa speaks with 3 members of Formerly Incarcerated Girls Justice Advocates Melbourne, known as FIGJAM, Kelly, Nina and Georgia. FIGJAM is a collective of formerly incarcerated women based in Melbourne who have survived violence in the community but also at the hands of the state -- namely prisons and police. FIGJAM was founded by Nina, the Family Violence Justice Project Coordinator from Flat Out in the hope and dream of building a community of staunch advocates providing connection, support and stability to its members. FIGJAM members use their voices and experiences to change community attitudes and push through barriers of stigma and discrimination. We discussed strip searching in prisons. Strip searching is an unnecessary, degrading and deeply harmful practice that should be banned in law by all governments, according to a new report released by the Human Rights Law Centre, Flat Out and FIGJAM. The report was discussed in detail highlighting violations of human rights in prison. FIGJAM's campaign was also discussed.
Marisa