Roddy and Robert Russell’s story, plus Sam explores why IPP serving prisoners are finding it so hard to get released by the parole board.
Roddy Russell first found out what an IPP sentence was in 2011 when his brother, Robert didn't come home after serving 2-and-a-half-year tariff for a threat to kill. The brothers grew up in the Forest of Dean – and Roddy left as soon as he was old enough for a career in the RAF, whilst Robert went down a different path and has been in prison for the last 14 years, serving an indefinite imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence. Today Roddy travels back to the Forest of Dean to meet Robert's friends and former co-workers as he takes on his latest battle to help get his brother released.
To understand why IPPs are finding it so hard to get released by the parole board, Sam meets the lawyer Andrew Sperling and former prison officer Sam Samworth. Samworth, who explains what prison life is like for people serving IPP sentences and how vulnerable they are. Hank Rossi of the Institute of Now and Richard Garside, Director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, discuss the barriers that prisoners face when approaching a parole review. It’s a Catch-22 says Garside, the problems IPPs face get reproduced over time with no obvious way out.
Finally, Sam and Hank travel to Bristol to meet Stafford Lightman, a Professor of Medicine. He describes how the brain responds to stress and how indefinite detention exacerbates its effects for both IPP prisoners and their family members.
Get in touch on Twitter, Tik Tok or Instagram @Trapped_Pod
Listen to our BBC Radio 4 doc, featuring Roddy and Robert on the IPP sentence: 'Tapped in the System' here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001l267
Contributors in order of appearance:
Roddy Russell, IPP campaigner and brother of IPP serving prisoner, Robert @1roddyRussell
Andrew Sperling, Lawyer and parole specialist, director of SL5 Legal. @AndrewSperling
Graham Towl, Professor of forensic psychology at Durham University, former Chief Psychologist at the Ministry of Justice @ProfGrahamTowl
Bryn Williams, former employer of Robert Russell
Hank Rossi, The Institute of Now
Andrew Mapps, friend of Robert Russell
Nick Ballard, friend of Robert Russell
Dan Nelmes, friend of Robert Russell
Sam Samworth, former prison officer and Author @NeilSamworth
Clara White, sister of IPP serving prisoner Thomas White
Richard Garside, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies @RichardJGarside
Stafford Lightman, Professor of Medicine, University of Bristol
Reporter: Samantha Asumadu @SamanthaAsumadu
Executive Producer: Melissa FitzGerald @melissafitzg
Producer: Steve Langridge @SMLANGERS
Consultant: Hank Rossi
Artwork: Brightside
A Zinc Media Production for The Institute of Now
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
