At first, I was a bit concerned about representing the big picture of the justice system through a simple game of Snakes and Ladders, but it’s hard to talk about the not-so-pretty, uncomfortable realities of what people go through in prison. I hoped this approach might make it a bit easier.

In my Introduction to Corrections course with Nicole Patrie, an assistant professor in the Department of Public Safety and Justice Studies, our assignment was to represent a specific group of people as they go through the correctional system. It could take any form that wasn’t an essay. We chose to look at the experiences of people struggling with mental health and addictions. When I started learning about the different paths people take and why people commit crimes, it made me reflect on some of the people I know, the barriers they’ve faced and why they were sometimes shut out because of their choices. 

As my classmate Jolie LaPierre and I worked our way through the assignment, we reflected on our values and who we wanted to be as we entered this field. We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about and researching our justice system, particularly the correctional system. It’s not perfect and has a lot of setbacks, but there are also opportunities. To us, the classic game of Snakes and Ladders perfectly reflected the ups and downs of the system. 

Our game starts with someone committing a crime. The players roll the dice and see where they land. Snakes represent a setback in the system – things like limited treatment resources or the fact that the system isn’t equipped to address long-term therapy or treatment needs. A ladder represents an opportunity – enrolling in a life skills program, for example. 

It’s simple, but I hope it helps people talk through a topic that can be uncomfortable and scary. I hope people might think, “Wow, I didn’t know people went through while incarcerated,” and maybe build some empathy for them and become more informed about the system itself.

– Erin Jackman, a Community Justice and Corrections student

Erin presented her project at the Faculty of Health and Community Studies research conference early in the Winter 2025 term. She will graduate at the Spring Convocation ceremonies in June and is currently working in mental health within the correctional system. She hopes to eventually pursue a position as a Law Court Sheriff. 


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