About When Incarceration Begins
Why does When Incarceration Begins exist?
When Incarceration Begins (WIB) has been a long time in the making. The idea was born from personal experience navigating the Canadian prison system after a loved one was incarcerated.
I was frustrated, overwhelmed, and felt completely in the dark. I did not know anyone personally who has dealt with someone facing incarceration, so there was nobody “in real life” to ask for help, tips or advice. I was left to search endlessly online, ask people on internet forums, and still came up short with little to no information that was helpful or reliable.
Many times, I’d come across PDFs or website resources that only list the “steps” or “instructions” which basically duplicated information that can easily be found on the Correctional Service of Canada website without the true/real-world experience of someone who has to go through the actual motions of sending a pen pack, getting on a visitation or call list, etc. These are the small but critical details that families need when they’re suddenly thrown into this system.
It quickly became clear that there was no centralized, trustworthy source of information for families and friends.
Too often, we’re left to rely only on information from the inside, which can be incomplete, delayed, confusing or missing key details that could delay approvals.
WIB exists to change that:
To offer clear, reliable, and compassionate guidance for families and friends navigating the incarceration of someone they care about.
WIB has now grown into a community-based initiative made up of friends and family members of people incarcerated in federal institutions throughout Canada, men and women who have experience being incarcerated AND individuals currently incarcerated.
Our Values & Beliefs
Approach With Compassion
Incarceration takes an emotional and mental toll on everyone involved. All individuals and families should be granted empathy, care, and understanding.
Dignity for All
Every person, incarcerated or not, deserves to be treated with respect and humility, regardless of their circumstances.
Information for Empowerment
Knowledge is power. By equipping families and friends with accurate, timely, and actionable information and resources, they can make informed decisions.
Accessiblity
We are committed to providing clear, practical, and easily understandable information to people navigating the complex correctional system in Canada, without cost or barriers.
Non-Judgment
We recognize the diverse paths and complex realities people face when their loved one is incarcerated.
Equity and Inclusion
We recognize the disproportionate impacts of incarceration on Indigenous, Black, racialized, and marginalized communities.
An important note on language:
We may use “loved ones” and “inmates” interchangeably. While “inmate” can feel more institutional, we include it to help people find our resources more easily online.