Trapped in the System

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BBC Radio 4 - Trapped in the System

Roddy Russell shares his brother Robert's story of an indeterminate prison sentence.

Roddy Russell shares the story of his brother Robert, who has an indeterminate Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence and is trapped in the system with no end in sight.

Since his brother received an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence, Roddy Russell has experienced, first-hand, the devastating effect that these indeterminate sentences have upon those serving them.

Roddy's brother, Robert, was sentenced to an IPP, with a two and a half year tariff, for making a threat to kill in 2009. He remains in prison 14 years later, his mental health diminished, trapped in the system with no end in sight.

In this very personal documentary, Roddy shares his brother's story, which is typical of so many others still serving IPP sentences and he provides a deep insight into the many barriers and pitfalls he's had to navigate as an unwitting campaigner, as he shines a light on the countless dark corners of the IPP saga.

For Roddy, a 55-year-old RAF veteran, living in Stafford and working as a fuel tanker driver, the fight for his brother's release is all encompassing. Roddy has joined other families in similar circumstances to support one another and to meet and lobby politicians. Via intimate, heartfelt accounts, Roddy shares his own experiences, as well as some of the many stories of fellow family members, who have come together to put an end to a situation that has been described as ‘Kafkaesque’.

There’s currently no release date on the horizon for his brother, and Roddy is also dealing with inheritance and probate issues following the death of their mother in July last year. Robert's current situation is causing issues for this to be progressed, adding to the stress and strain they're both under.

In October 2022, the Justice Committee's report into IPPs found these sentences to be ‘irredeemably flawed’ and called on the government to re-sentence all people in prison who are subject to IPPs. However, in March 2023 the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab rejected this recommendation. So, for now, Roddy’s nightmare continues.

Contributors in order of appearance:

Neil 'Sam' Samworth
Clara White
Cherrie Nichol
James Daly MP
Lord Moylan
Lord Blunkett
Sir Bob Neill
Donna Mooney

Producers: Melissa FitzGerald and Steve Langridge.
Consultant: Hank Rossi

A Zinc Audio production for BBC Radio 4

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