Still kicking. Don’t give up the fight. The fight within.

The court. In my case I was treated fairly. I think I was pretty lucky to get nine months for what I did. That part I was treated pretty fair. I have seventy three counts of fraud up to one quarter million… I think the ordeal that I had to go through in court, though, is really disgusting.

I know one woman who really got shafted. Her lawyer traded her for someone else. She should’ve walked for what she did, but she got time so some other guy could walk.

My lawyer said I’ve made serious efforts to rehabilitate myself, so the judge agreed that nine months was enough.
The reason I’m in here is because of drugs. I’m an addict.
When I need my drug, I need my drug, so it doesn’t matter. I just did what I had to do. I found a way to get what I needed.

Melodie Newfield
Inmate
Burnaby Correctional Centre for Women.

Update: Melodie was a bright and lovely person. I need to write a little more than usual here because her death is a heavy, dark thing. She was beaten to death and dumped naked in a parking lot in Burnaby in 1995 - only 33 years old. I heard of her death one morning while listening to the radio. No one should die this way! And no-one should be a two minute news item when they die.