Comments on: How to make prisons better http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/05/09/mark-edits-the-guardian/ news, interviews and features on Mark Johnson, author of Wasted Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:34:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Lindsey H http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/05/09/mark-edits-the-guardian/#comment-76 Lindsey H Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:10:53 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=27#comment-76 Hi Mark, Iv just finished reading your book Wasted and I needed to tell you what an inspiration it has been to me. Myself and my partner have addictions to both Heroin and Crack Cocaine and we are currently in a community rehab programme. If I had not have read your book I would not have had the strength to get off the drugs and get clean and be a proper mum to my kids. It gave me so much hope and I can identify with loads of the things you went through. I even recognised some of the places you wrote about in your memoirs as I am from Birmingham and I know there are major problems with drug related crime in some parts of Birmingham. I have reccomended your book to many people who I think can benefit from it in the same way I have and Im even working on a review to write about it in the media review section in an issue of "The Rattle" magazine run by a local drugs group called SAVE which stands for Sandwell Addicts Views Expressed. I will give it 5 stars because I think it thoroughly deserves that. Keep up the good work we need people like you to stick up and campaighn for our children who live in the most deprived inner city areas in this country because they need a voice and only those who have truly been in their situation can appreciate what they need to escape a life of crime, drugs, abuse and violence. Keep it up because you are the example the kids need to follow. Half the problem with these kids is that they dont have a positive role model in their lives. You really are an inspiration and living proof to those of us who find it too difficult to get off drugs that you can do it, it is possible! Thankyou for helping me realise that it can be achieved and there is light at the end of the tunnle! xx Hi Mark, Iv just finished reading your book Wasted and I needed to tell you what an inspiration it has been to me. Myself and my partner have addictions to both Heroin and Crack Cocaine and we are currently in a community rehab programme. If I had not have read your book I would not have had the strength to get off the drugs and get clean and be a proper mum to my kids. It gave me so much hope and I can identify with loads of the things you went through. I even recognised some of the places you wrote about in your memoirs as I am from Birmingham and I know there are major problems with drug related crime in some parts of Birmingham. I have reccomended your book to many people who I think can benefit from it in the same way I have and Im even working on a review to write about it in the media review section in an issue of “The Rattle” magazine run by a local drugs group called SAVE which stands for Sandwell Addicts Views Expressed. I will give it 5 stars because I think it thoroughly deserves that. Keep up the good work we need people like you to stick up and campaighn for our children who live in the most deprived inner city areas in this country because they need a voice and only those who have truly been in their situation can appreciate what they need to escape a life of crime, drugs, abuse and violence. Keep it up because you are the example the kids need to follow. Half the problem with these kids is that they dont have a positive role model in their lives. You really are an inspiration and living proof to those of us who find it too difficult to get off drugs that you can do it, it is possible! Thankyou for helping me realise that it can be achieved and there is light at the end of the tunnle! xx

]]> By: Hayley Barber http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/05/09/mark-edits-the-guardian/#comment-73 Hayley Barber Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:58:57 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=27#comment-73 Hi Mark I've read the report you wrote for the Gardian. My older brother was something of a recidivist, and I admit to stigmatising him. Then again he did abuse me in one form or another for about eight years. On the other hand, I myself have been subjected to criminal justice. I received a caution for Criminal Damage a few years ago, and found getting my ideal job very hard to do. My local trust appeared not to see past my CRB check. However the trust I do work for looked at my CRB, read my references, and my interview notes. On April 30th last year I was informed of what ward I would work on at what hospital. I am still there today. They saw me for who I really am because they did what you are aiming for. When I was in custody they treated me like a human being, not like a piece of scum. In some cases I can understand why police go so hard on offenders, but the way they treated me that night helped me mentally as well as in the role of suspect. Wasted was absolutely brilliant and while I was close to tears at one point, I couldn't put it down. hope it's going well in South Africa Hi Mark I’ve read the report you wrote for the Gardian. My older brother was something of a recidivist, and I admit to stigmatising him. Then again he did abuse me in one form or another for about eight years. On the other hand, I myself have been subjected to criminal justice. I received a caution for Criminal Damage a few years ago, and found getting my ideal job very hard to do. My local trust appeared not to see past my CRB check. However the trust I do work for looked at my CRB, read my references, and my interview notes. On April 30th last year I was informed of what ward I would work on at what hospital. I am still there today. They saw me for who I really am because they did what you are aiming for. When I was in custody they treated me like a human being, not like a piece of scum. In some cases I can understand why police go so hard on offenders, but the way they treated me that night helped me mentally as well as in the role of suspect.
Wasted was absolutely brilliant and while I was close to tears at one point, I couldn’t put it down. hope it’s going well in South Africa

]]> By: mark dred http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/05/09/mark-edits-the-guardian/#comment-23 mark dred Tue, 20 May 2008 08:28:09 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=27#comment-23 hiya mark, im well impressed by what your doing its inspirational. Im also so grateful that i bumped into shopping the other night, you gave me some pointers for my essay title, its got to be a current issue related to education. If you got any suggestions email me at the above address. Have a bostin week my friend and god bless 1love mark dred ps dont bang out the neighbour pray for the c*** hiya mark, im well impressed by what your doing its inspirational. Im also so grateful that i bumped into shopping the other night, you gave me some pointers for my essay title, its got to be a current issue related to education. If you got any suggestions email me at the above address. Have a bostin week my friend and god bless 1love mark dred ps dont bang out the neighbour pray for the c***

]]> By: Brian Keaney http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/2008/05/09/mark-edits-the-guardian/#comment-22 Brian Keaney Sat, 17 May 2008 17:50:01 +0000 http://www.mark-johnson.org.uk/?p=27#comment-22 mark a met you the other day at the social work conferenceand lost the email address you gave me if you want to hear more about the rutes out of prison project i work for email the correct address will be great to hear from you. brian mark a met you the other day at the social work conferenceand lost the email address you gave me if you want to hear more about the rutes out of prison project i work for email the correct address will be great to hear from you.

brian

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