Hard Place to Do Time The Story of Oakalla Prison, 1912-1991

Hard Place to Do Time is a vivid chronicle of Oakalla Prison Farm, one of Canada's most notorious correctional institutions, located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Operating for nearly 80 years, from 1912 to 1991, it housed inmates ranging from petty thieves to hardened criminals. The book provides the inside story of the many significant events that occurred there, including escapes, riots, and hangings, which made Oakalla one of the most notorious prisons in North America and British Columbia. Drawing on firsthand accounts, archival records, and personal interviews, author Earl Andersen paints a raw portrait of daily life behind the walls, detailing the brutal conditions of the early 20th century and the evolving corrections philosophy that eventually led to the prison's closure.

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