Britain’s high reoffending rate costs taxpayers around £15bn a year. Very little of taxpayers money is spent on the important work that volunteers like Lilly do to assist prisoners reintegrate back into society. As a result 60% of released inmates go on to reoffend within a two-year period. Prisons seclude criminals from the rest of society and so naturally ex-offenders find it difficult to readjust to normal life once they get out and find it difficult to reintegrate into society. Lack of job opportunities, and difficulties finding accommodation are just two of the challenges former prisoners face and it is a cause of why many drift back to crime. 

Links
Sussex Pathways Charity
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Lilly Instagram

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In this episode Raphael reads a couple of extracts from his book Notorious. Inspiring people to think about those they would not normally consider deserving of a Second Chance. 

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Michael Irwin was arrested at Gatwick Airport in 2007 with 1.1 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the lining of a bag he’d collected in the Caribbean. At the time he was addicted to cocaine and alcohol. He was sentenced to twelve years for drug trafficking. He served six in prison and six outside on licence. Whilst in prison Michael studied criminology and psychology and upon release he completed a masters at Queen's University Belfast. His second chance in life started in prison and his book ‘My Life began at Forty’ is an inspiring and fantastic resource for those with loved ones - or themselves - facing time in prison.

Links for more about Michael Irwin :

Twitter

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Convict Criminology

Michael's Book

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Myles Harris, aka Bouncer is a content creator, sports and boxing promoter and an entrepreneur who served time in prison for robbery and drug offences. He plays on his past reputation naming sports management company ‘Wicked N Bad’. Myles’s journey to success was, like many poor and marginalised families' from inner city council estates, difficult and challenging. That’s not an excuse, it’s a reality, but as he advocates, it shouldn’t stop you wanting more, or becoming more, than the defined negative stereotype often portrayed.

Links for Myles Harris:
Youtube
Website
Instagram

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Michael O’Brien is a survivor of one the most emblematic miscarriages of justice in Britain. Known as ‘The Cardiff Newsagent Three’ case, it has become a key point of reference for campaigners against injustice. He spent 11 years in prison before his conviction was overturned. He lost not only his freedom but everything he'd ever had, including his wife, his child, and even his health. But he did gain something from his time inside: a self-taught knowledge of Law, and a burning desire to help others fight for justice. He is a best selling author of a number of insightful books about being a victim of a miscarriage of justice, prison and the Criminal Justice System. 

Links for more about Michael O’Brien

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LinkedIn

Wikipedia

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Raphael is in conversation with associate professor David Skarbek, author of The Puzzle of Prison Order: Why Life Behind Bars Varies Around the World. An illuminating work of much interest to students of crime and punishment. Skarbek’s book digs behind the scenes of global prisons, studying the balance of power and hierarchy behind bars and how that affects prisoners. The conversation was part of the Fall for the Books Festival, organised by George Mason University, in Virginia, USA.  

Fall for the Books

Website

Instagram

David Sarbek

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In 1991, Darnell Philips was 19 years old when he was sentenced to 100 years in prison for raping and brutally beating a 10-year-old girl in Virginia Beach, in the USA.  In 2015, the Innocence Project based at the University of Virginia, found, and had tested, new DNA evidence that they say proves he was not at the scene of the crime. This crucial development led to Darnell being freed from prison, on parole, in 2018,  after serving 28 years in prison. Darnell, now 50, has always insisted on his innocence, but his conviction has still not been overturned. This is due to a legal procedure in the law courts that lawyers believe a groundbreaking new law will remove, allowing Darnell  to finally prove his innocence

Links: 

Darnell Instagram

Innocence Project Virginia

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In this episode, we share the inspiring story of Jessica Kent's Incredible Journey: Giving Birth in Prison, Overcoming Addiction, and Advocating for Change. Jessica Kent gave birth to her first child while serving a five-year sentence in an American prison for drug and firearm charges. After just a few days with her newborn, the authorities took the child away. But Jessica was determined to regain custody of her daughter. She overcame her drug addiction and won custody of her daughter, building a new life in the process.

Jessica's life has been full of challenges, from giving birth while chained to a bed in prison, battling alcoholism and drug addiction, to becoming an influential figure with over 2 million social media followers. Despite these obstacles, she has managed to turn her life around and become a role model for women who have been through similar struggles.

Jessica emphasises the importance of treating vulnerable individuals with respect and compassion. She uses her platform to raise awareness of issues within the prison system and advocates for change, including access to basic hygiene products and medical needs for inmates.

Jessica's story serves as a reminder of the need for change in the prison system. You can watch her full interview on the Second Chance Podcast's YouTube channel.

https://truecrimeawards.co.uk/2023/en/page/top-podcast-listeners-choice

Jessica Kent on YouTube

Jessica Kent Vlogs

Jessica Kent on Instagram

Jessica Kent on TikTok

Jessica Kent on Facebook

Second Chance Podcast on YouTube

Raphael on Instagram

Raphael's Website

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael Rowe Foundation

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Word of warning, this episode contains details of sexual abuse that some listerners might find upsetting.

Jeremy Indika is founder of ‘Something to Say’. His mission is to break the silence surrounding child sexual abuse and to create content that attracts the attention of everyone. Because this is everyone's concern. Jeremy was sexually abused by his child minder when he was just 8 years old. Although his abuser was never prosecuted Jeremy was able to track him down and confront him.  It’s a subject that Jeremy wants more people to be aware of, because it is, he says, everybody’s concern. Jeremy wants to raise awareness and get this subject in front of more people. By turning what was once an uncomfortable topic, into one that people want to know more about, he believes more can be achieved to prevent future victims.

Jeremy Indika Links:

Mission - Something to Say

Jeremy Indika (@jeremyindika) / Twitter

Something to Say (@sts_official_1) / Twitter

Jeremy Indika - YouTube

Sexual Abuse Links:

Childline

The Survivors Trust

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Brenda Birungi aka ‘Lady Unchained’ is passionate about second chances and is an important advocate for life after prison, having been sentenced to two and a half years inside at the age of 21 for a violence offence. She’s since become a poet, facilitator, mentor, and radio host for National Prison Radio. Brenda is also the founder and creative director of Unchained Poetry, an artistic platform for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. She is also the host for Unchained Night’s, a night of inspirational storytelling through poetry and music. Brenda poetry workshops in prisons and in the community for a Women Centres helps women find their creative voice. Although she’s out of prison and living her best life - she continues to challenge the ex-offender label through creativity.

unchained-poetry

Brenda Birungi - Creative Director - Unchained Poetry Limited | LinkedIn

Unchained Poetry Limited - Home | Facebook

Unchained Poetry (@UnchainedP) / Twitter

Lady Unchained #PeoplesQueen (@lady_unchained) • Instagram photos and videos

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