| European Forum for Restorative Justice

The fact that in the last months many of us around the globe experienced some degree of isolation increased awareness of the situation of people who are sentenced to be isolated in prisons, and how they experience their stricter, longer and involuntary confinement. In the initiative of European Forum for Restorative Justice members, Ian Marder, Ram Tiwari, Anna Matczak, and Petra Masopust Šachová inmates from adult male prisons in Czech Republic (Belusice, Plzen Bory and Kurim) were asked to share "5 tips to help them handle the imprisonment". Out of the several hundred answers they received we share the responses of nine detained people in the English translation of Eva Illnerová.
Visits and personal contacts in Czech prisons are currently suspended. Inmates may communicate with family members only via online channels. Also most of the programmes (such as educational activities, therapies, self-development projects) are suspended. Petra Masopust Šachová tells that for prisoners there is not much to do now. However, many prisons in the country got involved with sewing the masks, not just for themselves, but also for hospitals and for other needed areas and professions.
The collection of these experiences is a first action of the four above mentioned practitioners' Memorandum of Understanding initiative that concerns the need to initiate, develop and support, as well as advance collaboration between, new, bottom-up platforms for justice reform. The signatories are the founders of three networks and organisations – Community of Restorative Researchers, Nepal Forum for Restorative Justice and Czech Institute for Restorative Justice – and a core member of the Restorative Justice: Strategies for Change team in Poland. They seek to use the internet and social media platforms to encourage and support progressive criminal justice reform around the world. We share the unique outcome of this initiative as a part of our #SolidarityOverDistance campaign.

"Live your life at its fullest, dance, think, be silly with everything you have around you. Do care about each other and think about the fact that you live only once and Gods ways are mysterious."

One

Everyone, “including me”, is facing many obstacles they have to learn to live with. Whether we are talking about a prison as such or to be imprisoned due to the COVID.

We, the inmates, are in more complicated situation so we are looking for ways how to make our time more pleasant and to “forget” about the virus effects.

I like to make phone calls from the phones we have here. I write letters like in the old times, but what I really enjoy is to close my eyes and think I am with those I miss the most. I also enjoy making (drawing) envelopes, listening to the music, watching TV and thinking how it would be outside with my wife Marika and her amazing son Bady, with my brothers, father and mother Victoria. Only thanks to her and God I don’t lose my hope. Victoria means victory and our Lord is with us.

To all of those who are not is a good mood I send this message… Live your life at its fullest, dance, think, be silly with everything you have around you. Do care about each other and think about the fact that you live only once and Gods ways are mysterious. Never give up your hope, I pray for all of you. And don’t forget that no matter what happens, it is supposed to be this way. Believe and smile.

"A year on prison showed me that life in freedom is more important for me than my life."

Two

How to deal with life in prison: First and foremost is to follow the prison rules .
What helps me: The biggest help comes from my supportive family, they’re in touch with me. It is very good when you have support from the outside. Those I care about. And faith helps me. I believe in God. All my family does. I believe in God since my childhood. God helps me to live through a very difficult life in prison.
Vision: I want to live after my release from prison. Quiet, without any problems with the police. Life with people I care about and not making any more mistake I am paying for now. Paying by this punishment. It is not easy.
Thoughts: My thoughts are about not committing any more crimes. I’m scared in prison and what it is consisting of. When you a’re imprisoned and you don’t have the freedom. Now I cry. How much I miss it. Freedom and nature.
A year on prison showed me that life in freedom is more important for me than my life.

"I also think about all the good things I lived through."

Three

For sure what helps me is exercise. It clears my head and releases the tension.
When I feel I can not make it any longer, it helps me to think about my family and immediately I think about the consequences if I don’t hold my tension back.
Since I got 10 years in prison, I do need sometimes a professional help. In that case I ask for a psychologist or psychiatrist.
What also helps me here is crosswords puzzles.
Sometimes I even just take my time and stay alone in the cell or cultural room and think. I always have to think about having my 10 years here and that I don’t want any more. Also that my family loves me and I still have all my life ahead of me. I also think about all the good things I lived through.

" It is important to divide the day well, maybe hour after hour. "

Four

Faith – Faith makes me stronger mainly because my soul is free.
Time flow – everything moves, nothing stays. The fact that everything comes and goes helps me a lot in prison. My time in prison will pass and I’ll be free and happy again.
Strict rules – every day is a stereotype. The beginning is hard, but a human is adaptable. If you follow strict order every day, you get used to it and imprisonment is more bearable. It is important to divide the day well, maybe hour after hour. Join activities you enjoy, but even something you don’t enjoy, that is the magic. : )
Don’t dwell on the past, you can’t change that. Focus on the present and on how to make the best out of it.
Don’t believe the media. Use your common sense.

"The best is to plan those activities ahead to get yourself tired. "

Five

If you get anxious, when you’re so nervous that you’re becoming unpleasant for the others or your close ones, the best is to find some activity, to do something, best is manual activity, doesn’t have to be very logic, you can wash the floor even when it is clean. The best is to plan those activities ahead to get yourself tired. The real body tiredness helps, so if you can not find any work to do, do some exercise – push-ups, squats, etc. What also helps me is some creative activity, drawing of portraits or tattoos. Another great activity is reading, it is very important to choose the right genre, because for those who don’t read much it can be boring and discouraging.

"It is important to learn. To believe in better tomorrows."

Six

What helps me most is my family and my close ones, who are here for me for the whole duration of my punishment, they support me and love me nevertheless.
What also helps me is physical exercise. In the gym or in the cell.
In those moments I find important to talk about my feelings with a specialist.
The next is that nothing lasts forever and it is never that bad that it can not be worse.
It is important to learn. To believe in better tomorrows. Not to look back , but always ahead. What happened can not be undone, but we can prevent what can happen. It is important to believe in something. Wither in myself or find a faith or karma, we must not give up. The life we live for the others is worth living.

"Not dealing with small matters, keep looking at the big picture."

Seven

How to deal with prison. That is very individual. For me there are few important matters:

Being tolerant towards others and demand the same from them.
Not dealing with small matters, keep looking at the big picture.
Being positive as much as possible.
Optimism (everything has a curve and everything ends).
Keeping a regime and follow clear rules.
Knowing how to listen to others an to communicate can prevent crisis situations.

"Not to spread bad mood to others."

Eight

A man needs to conciliate with the fact that he lost his freedom and that he is powerless in that situation, he needs to be able to take a step back and stay phlegmatic to certain matters, because if he pays attention to them, he’d go crazy.
To create a time planning for all day (food, exercise, book, sleep, activities, etc).
Positive thinking, stay away from bad thoughts.
Be tolerant, pay attention to other mates. Not to spread bad mood to others.
Try to smile. Smiles and good mood keeps us floating above water.

"It is important to stay true to yourself, not to be manipulated by others."

Nine

Faith, family, girlfriend, friends.
Sports, reading, writing letters, work, activities.
Positive thinking, laugh, love, hope.
A man has to stay standing; he needs to grab and profit from all the bad he has to go through. In everything bad and awful is something good at the end!
At the beginning I made myself a goal to aim for and I am slowly getting there and I want to make it all the way through! To live here without making mistakes, to keep on guard, to keep myself under control, stay alert and not forget anything, to show others that even here we can move forward, make ourselves better, work on our body and soul. It is important to stay true to yourself, not to be manipulated by other inmates. To have clear mind and the strength to fight with all crossing our way. Never give up and follow my dreams – freedom, family, work, nice life, always believe in good and myself. We can make it through everything, we just need the will to do so.

Prisoners on Handling Isolation