BEN'S PRISON BLOG - Lifer On The Loose

The first blog by a British prisoner. Variously described as being "obviously extremely intelligent" (Michael Gove), "the most interesting interview I have ever done" (Michael Portillo), and a "fully paid up member of the awkward squad" (Parole Board), I try to generate debate around the moral and political nexus that is imprisonment. Imprisoned between ages 14 to 47, released on Licence in August 2012

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Ruthless

Bob fell and broke his leg, badly, and was carted off to hospital. Ten minutes later, as we were being fed, someone asked the screws who was...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Cuts

Ten days into the month and the nick is out of toilet roll, bin liners and the amorphous "green liquid" disinfectant. Probably o...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Parole Dilemma

I have my long overdue parole board hearing on November llth. The three options before the board are: to leave me in closed conditions; to r...

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Progress

An Anonymous comment by someone associated with prison has suggested that there are only two reasons why I haven’t been released, both being...

Friday, October 15, 2010

Answers...

7. What are Ben's views on prison charities or other organisations supposed to represent those in custody? Which ones does he think have...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Answers cont...

Q6: If prisoners suddenly had access to all the educational resources they could ever need, what proportion do you think would make use of t...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Answers cont...

Q5: To what degree do you genuinely feel as a middle aged man that you are responsible for the actions of a 14 year old boy in a fit of ange...

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Answer Time (cont...)

4. I expect a "pecking order" goes on with respect to crimes that people are inside for and which are deemed of "higher statu...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Any Answers? cont...

2. Are you a virgin? (Anon) Nope. I am no longer allowed to work alongside female staff, such is my reputation for seduction... This is ter...

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Any Answers? Part One

1. What does Ben think he would be doing with his life if "that day" hadn't happened? (Anon) It’s a strange thought, but bei...

Answer Time

Over the next few days I shall be posting Ben's responses to "Question Time". Sorry it has taken a while, but we rely on the ...

Friday, October 8, 2010

Ken Faces the Lions

It's not often that I await the moment when one of our leaders takes to a podium to begin waffling, but the speech by Ken Clarke at the ...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

The Suspect

There was a bloke on the wing who we thought was a grass. But how to flush him out? Nicking a sheet of official notepaper and using the pri...

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Contemporary Life

The astute reader will note that whilst I cheerfully describe -some - of my own contemporary activities, the people around me rarely get a m...

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About Me

prisonerben: United Kingdom; Previously known as "one of Britain's best known prisoners...he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility of the system" The Times, Ben was finally released from prison after 32 years in August 2012. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when he was 14 years old, he renounced violence and fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. As a result of speaking truth to power, he served far longer than the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to argue that he had "been punished excessively for a crime committed as a child". One of the more intellectual of prisoner-campaigners, Ben chose to educate himself from schoolboy level to having both undergraduate and post graduate degrees. He is currently one of very few prisoners in Britain ever to attempt a Doctorate. Ben's speciality is non-violent action and the Human Needs Theory. Now on Life Licence, He is forging a career as a CJ policy consultant, writer and - as ever - campaigner.

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