Cambodian Kids Behind Bars (9) Lina's Story: Prisoner Violence

Lina is a Cambodian woman doing a 16-year prison stretch for a crime she claims she did not commit. She has a young daughter, Maly, who spent time in jail with her.

She shares her small cell with as many as 25 prisoners and their children at a time.

Sometimes she never leaves her cell for days, even weeks, at a time.

Food and water supplies are scant and often make the prisoners sick.

Clothing and hygiene products are not supplied to any prisoners or their children by the state. 

There was never enough food  for Lina's daughter, Maly.

Prison guards would often hit Lina's young child and the youngster often witnessed jailer violence against other prisoners.

Lina's story continues:

"Sometimes the other women in my cell would get angry at my child when she talked a lot and made
noise and they wanted to be left alone, but no one ever hurt her. No other prisoner has ever hurt me
either. I keep out of trouble."

~ http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/reports/files/116LICADHOReportPrisonMotherChild07.pdf

Nevertheless, there have been a number of reported cases of assaults against children by prisoners within prison walls. With as many as 25 prisoners to a cell this is anything but surprising.

For the same reason, violent attacks by prisoners against cell-mates is common place.