Groups aim to aid inmates' wives

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The families of people serving time in penal institutions are a forgotten sector in the justice system, says the head of a new support group for the relatives of inmates.

"There are many things in place to help the victims," said Tasha Pelletier, who founded the Helping Hands Society three months ago. "There are things to help the inmates. But there is nothing for the families."

Pelletier knows what she is talking about. For the last 12 years, she has been forced to raise her two children alone while her husband served time in federal institutions.

The life is a tough one, she says. When a family loses a member, especially a father, they suffer a host of losses. The family is thrown into emotional turmoil, economic stability vanishes and then there are the stigmas that go with having a family member in jail.

Pelletier has had to move her family several times to keep up with her husband's transfers inside the system.

"It's a sad life," she said. "It is amazing what these women do to keep their families together....Sometimes you have outside agencies come in with the best intentions. But you have to walk the walk. These are inmates' wives helping inmates' wives."

The Helping Hand group now meets on Saturday nights in an Edmonton church. It's a chance for women to share their feelings, get a little support and try to find ways to improve the system. The group hopes that it can gain enough credibility with the administration at the meximum-security Edmonton Institution to have some of their recommendations implemented.

The group is trying to raise money to refurnish the family visit trailers to give them a more home-like atmosphere. They also hope to refurbish family visit areas with toys and a video player so children and fathers can share activities.

"That visiting room is our living room. We try to raise our children there."

Pelletier says the group, still in its infancy, hopes to put together children's programs and activities for families.

"We are trying to take a lose-lose situation and make a win-win situation," she says. "Sometimes knowing you're not alone is the key to the problem."