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As futures hang in the balance, what would you decide? An eye-opening look at Britain's parole boards, making complex, life-changing decisions for prisoners - and their victims.
2023
Fifty-four-year-old Colin committed a brutal murder following a pub fight. Twenty-five years later, he has a chance to be released from prison. With his victim's widow waiting anxiously at home for the decision, will the parole board decide that he is safe to be let back into the community? Fifty-eight-year-old David spent 40 years swindling thousands of pounds out of women he dated. A serial fraudster, he left a stream of women not only financially damaged, but in some cases psychologically affected too. Can he convince the parole board he is a changed man, or does the panel think they are just being shown his skills of persuasion?
Fifteen years ago, Matthew violently murdered a young woman on a public street. He has the chance to move to an open prison where he will come into contact with the public. A recently converted Christian, will his remorse for the crime be enough to persuade the parole board to move him? Or will a violent outburst in prison keep him locked up for longer? After being convicted for arson, 26-year-old Simran was caught dealing class A drugs. Halfway through his four-and-a-half year sentence, he has the chance to be released into the community. With a history of mental health problems, will the parole board decide he needs to remain confined, or can he be safely released into the community?
Forty-five-year-old Jon has been locked up for 19 years after violently robbing three students in 2004. He is a veteran of six previous parole hearings, but has an intense period of therapy changed him enough for the board to give him a chance this time? Bethany, 23, breached her Criminal Behaviour Order in 2020 after repeatedly threatening to throw herself off motorway bridges. Can she convince the parole board that she isn’t a threat to herself and the public any longer?
34-year-old Ruben is facing the parole board after serving a sentence for biting a man’s ear off. Can he persuade the board he is a changed man, or will his offending past catch up with him? Cocaine addict Tom has made close to a million pounds dealing the drug. His mum has changed her career and retrained to be a hypnotherapist in order to try and help her son beat his addiction. Will the parole board be convinced that, after 70 days clean and with a supportive mum at home, Tom has met the test for release, or will they decide he needs to stay in prison? 32-year-old Mark disagrees with his sentence for threatening to kill and denies large portions of the crime that led him to prison. Will his desire to see his kids for Christmas be enough to convince the parole board he deserves a second chance, or will his chequered past continue to dictate his future?
Three years ago, 35-year-old Ben went on a drink and drugs binge that ended with a failed bank robbery. Having been released and reoffended numerous times before, will his recent illness be enough to make him change for good? Ben’s mum Denise desperately wants him to be given another chance, but is his drugs addiction so uncontrolled that the parole board will keep him locked up to protect the public? 30-year-old Jai has been in and out of prison since the age of 15. In his own words, will the parole board see him as a ‘pest to society’, or has he matured enough to put his criminal past behind him?
2024
Martin murdered his friend 18 years ago. Will the parole board move him to an open prison, or does a serious incident whilst in custody prove he's still a risk?
The parole board need to decide if serial burglar and jewellery store thief Jason should be given a third chance, having previously absconded when moved to an open prison.
Twenty years after a gangland shoot-out and an attempted murder conviction, can 45-year-old Adrian convince the panel his gang affiliations are behind him?
Can Carl convince the parole board he is now clean and has the recent death of his father changed his attitude towards crime?
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2016
