The prison service has become adept at cloaking itself with a facade of competence and decency, hiding behind a blizzard of policies and statements that attempt to guard the gated against cynical observers. Odd, sporadic and quickly discarded stories of wickedness leach out into the world but as a broad theme, to the unfocused public eye the prison service seems to have succeeded in appearing 'modern', 'humanitarian'.-even Butlinesque.
How is it then that a man acquitted of the charges against him lies dying under the disinterested gaze of prison guards in hospital? The story of Big Rinty is one that should enrage anyone with a scintilla of decency within their body. Rinty is a Lifer who was released on licence from his original sentence over two decades ago. After spending several years in the community, he was charged with a crime. He was then acquitted of this crime at trial.
Such is the contempt that our masters hold for the legal process, that Rinty was recalled back to prison anyway. Some 12 years later, here at Shepton, he was diagnosed with aggressive and fatal pancreatic cancer. In a very short time Rinty has been reduced by this malignancy, shaven down from his large frame into a man whose skin now merely serves to hold his bones together.
Rinty is now in hospital outside, under guard, too weak to even walk. He will shortly escape his sentence in the only certain way any Lifer can, through death.
Today, we learned that he has been refused Compassionate Release. Should anyone ever dare question the utter contempt for the prison system that is forever etched in my bones, remember Rinty.
We will. And I will never cease to remind you of the inhumanity that is the cold, dull, bureaucracy that comprises imprisonment.
Strong post Ben. Man to man is so unjust. That's a lyric from a famous Bob Marley track btw. Human(un)kind is more like how things are for us : ( I really hope you are alright Ben, don't know what has happened but you have many supporters and people who care about you. Don't worry, everything will be alright, things might not go to plan or to your or anyone elses timescale, but it will work out, you'll see. Bless x
ReplyDeleteIf 'he was acquitted of this crime at trial,' why was he sent back to HMP Shepton?
ReplyDeleteThere has to be a good reason for this - despite 'the comtempt that our masters hold.'
Take care with your words/ syntax/ phraseology...sometimes I'm reminded of Blake here.
Nevertheless - tragic story....& very sorry to hear.
Release on licence means there is the legal power to revoke that licence at any time for any reason. SO the fact that you have been accused of a crime is sufficient to withdraw the licence to be a free person, even if you manage to demonstrate innocence, you still have to persuade the state to set you free. And unfortunately, under the current system, it is for you to justify why you should have liberty not for the state to justify why would shouldn't.
ReplyDeleteSophistry used to excuse injustice is a tool dear to the unjust.
ReplyDeleteYou write well Ben and, in the midst of your own troubles, your support for Big Rinty says more about you than the Little Men who hold sway over you both.
Sophistry used to excuse injustice is a tool dear to the unjust.
ReplyDeleteYou write well Ben and, in the midst of your own troubles, your support for Big Rinty says more about you than the Little Men who hold sway over you both.
Kate in Australia
Anonymous #1,
ReplyDeleteWhy must there be a reason? Your naivety is charming.
Can I just interject a note of caution here - it is always difficult to comment meaningfully on any case without access to all the information. There may well have been other reasons why recall was felt appropriate. People cannot just be recalled without the process being reviewed by the Parole Board and every prisoner can be legally represented through that process. There will be reasons why a prisoner subject to a Life Sentence has not been released. On the subject of Compassionate Release, it may well be that there are concerns as to the release plan. Was it to a hospice, family or friends? We don't know, but I do know very, very careful consideration will have been given to any decision and I would expect his Probation Officer will be seeking to assist in any way possible.
ReplyDelete@ Jim Brown
ReplyDeleteI usually have great respect for your posts, but on this one I have to disagree. If you still seriously believe that any real consideration was given to poor Rinty, or any other prisoner come to that, you are simply following the official line, which given what you do is hardly surprising. As for his probation officer, what world do you live in? Anyone who has contact with probation officers will know that the probation service is not 'fit for purpose'
However dedicated a probation officer is, like the CPS and legal aid, the probation service was part of the justice system that did not gain during the boom years of government spending, whilst at the same time the boom in prison numbers increased pressure on them.
ReplyDeleteJim Brown must live in another world if he thinks the Probation Service will be seeking 'to help in any way possible'.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 8.09 - have you had much experience of the the 'system' - who said there 'has to be a good reason for this'! First hand involvement in the 'system' shows that there does not have to be a 'good reason' for many things connected to the penal system. If you believe this- what is the good reason for Ben still being in prison 30+ years after his crime?
@Mary
ReplyDeleteThere is always a 'reason' for any decision made by/within the penal system. Recalls (or any decision for that matter) aren't taken for 'shits and giggles'. Could it not be that you perhaps simply don't agree with/like the reasons given? The level of accountability probation staff (and others I'm sure) are forces to take for such decisions mean that it is extremely difficult to make them without a damn good reason, one which must stand up in court. Believe it or not, the majority of POs aren't 'out for blood' or seeking revenge, they're doing their job in line with strict policies, procedures and guidelines.
Just because you can't see the rationale behind a decision from your (often biased) viewpoint, doesn't mean it's not there.