CONTESTING WOMEN'S INCARCERATION: Feminist Prison Activists and British Columbia's Proudfoot Inquiry, 1978-80.

This article explores the Proudfoot Inquiry, a Royal Commission investigation into women's corrections in British Columbia in the late 1970s. The inquiry was prompted by allegations of illegal activities and sexual relationships between male prison guards and female inmates at Oakalla prison. It examines the different political perspectives and movements that emerged during the inquiry, including feminist anti-prison activists who called for the abolition of prisons. The article also discusses the conditions and issues faced by incarcerated women at Oakalla, including lack of medical treatment and mistreatment. It highlights the efforts of prison activists in advocating for reform and abolition, but acknowledges the limited impact of their work due to the conservative political climate of the time. [Extracted from the article]