Campaigners have described IPPs as a “death sentence by the back door”. The rate of self-harm among IPP prisoners is more than twice that of the general prison population and there have been 90 self-inflicted deaths of prisoners on IPPs in custody since they were introduced in April 2005, according to the United Group for Reform of IPP. The figures do not include suicides in the community.
Yeah, because there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Indefinite prison sentences means the prisoner has nothing to look forward to once they realize the parole board isn’t going to willingly let them out. At least with absurdly high sentences (like 25 years,) you at least know you’ll be released eventually. Even if the parole board doesn’t agree, you’ll still get out. But when the parole board is your only hope, that means suicide is your only other form of escape.
Yeah … it’s a death sentence for many.
Yeah, because there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Indefinite prison sentences means the prisoner has nothing to look forward to once they realize the parole board isn’t going to willingly let them out. At least with absurdly high sentences (like 25 years,) you at least know you’ll be released eventually. Even if the parole board doesn’t agree, you’ll still get out. But when the parole board is your only hope, that means suicide is your only other form of escape.