UNREPENTANT rapist and cult leader William Kamm, also known as Little Pebble, has given an insight into his life in prison - and his refusal to accept guilt or show remorse for his crimes.
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Kamm is among prisoners using a new and controversial social networking site - iexpress.org.au.
The world-first website has been established by prisoner advocacy group Justice Action to help inmates' rehabilitation by providing a platform for self-expression and aspiration.
In his writings, Kamm doesn't show a skerrick of repentance, remorse or guilt for his past actions.
Kamm, who was jailed in 2005 for rape, reveals he spends his days cooking meals for lactose and gluten-intolerant prisoners, doing painting and ceramics, fighting for his own release and also for fellow prisoners' rights.
“I’m looking forward to my release,” he said.
In his profile, Kamm boasts of being a “high-profile prisoner”.
He says he has served eight-and-a-half years, is awaiting release on parole, has been in four different prisons from high security to minimum and is still a strong believer in Jesus Christ.
“I was a married man with children whom I see once in a while,” he said.
“Prison has taught me much – I have met good inmates and good officers.
“Over the years I have fought to clear my name through the appeals process, and still am doing this.”
He said since 2007, he had learnt about law and the justice system, which he complains is "very unjust”.
“Many inmates come to me to help them in legal matters which has helped them to be released,” he said.
“Over the years I have written to the attorney general and the commissioner asking for help with various problems within the prison system and it was rewarding to receive replies which in turn has been used by the authorities to help fellow inmates.”
He is working in CSI Industries as a kitchen hand, looking after meals for people who have allergies to gluten, nuts and lactose or whose religions have special dietary needs.
“I also learnt to do art painting and ceramics and found it invigorating and challenging,” he said.
Mr Kamm said he had written to the NSW Law Reform Commission about problems many inmates have obtaining parole due to one of the conditions of having an approved address.
“Just to rent a place once you have placed it in an application to rent, if the real estate approve it, but say parole rejects it, you are left with a lease, no address and you remain in prison,” he said.
“In most cases parole [sic] has no idea what conditions you are on as this only comes after the parole board receives your date of release.
“Many inmates are waiting to courses so they can gain parole.
“They are placed on a list to do a course but in many cases are approached to do a course only weeks before their release date comes up, therefore the inmate is greatly disadvantaged and loses some six to 12 months of his parole due to the course.
“This is unjust.”
He simply signs off with "God Bless William".
Justice Action co-ordinator Brett Collins says there has been no pressure to shut down the website and it wouldn’t be long until each prison cell has its own computer.
Mr Collins has worked around inmates for more than a decade and said since its launch the iexpress.org.au website had “taken off”.
“It’s been exciting to be part of the development and be part of a world first,” he said.
“We have had great support from people agreeing that prisoners are entitled to have an online presence. We have also had people volunteering to help.
“We have carefully researched the issue and have spoken to a number of victims’ groups and have listen too and taken their concerns into account.
“The site is very carefully monitored.
“People in prison and hospitals have rights as well and this is breaking down barriers.”
Despite the media storm that has followed the website’s launch, Mr Collins said there had not been any pressure to shut it down.
“We are now in negotiation to have similar systems put in place in each state and territory and are pushing for prisoners to have computers installed in their cells, where they can often spend up to 18 hours a day,” he said.
“They would not only be able to send and receive emails but it would be a much more efficient way of receiving information.
“It is currently happening in the ACT and prisoners can use them to access religious information, for education purposes or on-line counselling for any number of problems they may have.”
Should criminals like Kamm have access to social media when the punishment of a custodial sentence involves removal from society? Post your comments below.
