Did you know that the second wave of COVID-19 resulted in 880 incarcerated people being infected as of February 1, 2021, leading to a total of 1,241 infections across Canada? Shockingly, this is approximately 10% of federally incarcerated individuals, compared to a much lower infection rate of only 2% in the general population.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to interrelated issues of mass incarceration and social and health inequalities, particularly for incarcerated individuals. This has resulted in a surge of non-compliant behavior, including protests and hunger strikes, to raise awareness and demand improved conditions of confinement.
In response to this dire situation, Work 2 Give launched the A.R.T. & Justice initiative in collaboration with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) and a team of researchers from the UBC School of Nursing.
As of January 2022, 83% of incarcerated individuals are fully vaccinated, with the CSC giving the first dose of the vaccine to 76% of eligible individuals. Access to prisons is still restricted, but the ART & Justice team sends surveys to participants to gather feedback on their experiences during the pandemic. The CSC encourages vaccination by easing visitation restrictions for vaccinated individuals. However, preventative measures such as addressing overcrowding are left unaddressed.
Fortunately, a lull in COVID-19 cases means that the ART & Justice team can once again visit with artists in person to discuss their work and improve the program over time. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of supporting and engaging incarcerated individuals, particularly through creative endeavors, during challenging times.
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