An Indeterminate Sentence
Hi, my name is Anthony and I am one of more than 10,000 people in the UK with an Imprisonment For Public Protection sentence, or as it is more commonly known, an IPP.
When I was 18, I got into trouble and went to prison.
Whilst in prison, I proved that I could be trusted again, and was given parole and sent back into the community.
I'm 25 now, and I have been out of prison for almost two years, but I am really struggling to get a job due to the fact I have an unspent conviction.
For those who don't know about prison, once you are released you are given a licence, and if you break the terms of the licence you will go back to jail. I have been good and jumped through all the hoops put in front of me and yet I cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel.
As I have an unspent conviction whenever I apply for a job no company wants to know. It is hard enough trying to find a job without an unspent conviction hanging over you.
I should make myself clear. This unspent conviction is with me for life. So whenever a company does what is called a CRB check on me, it has massive red flashing lights on it saying I have a unspent conviction.
The Job Centre has labelled me 'unemployable'. I have a small family who I am desperately trying to support by doing legal things as I want to leave my past behind me, but with this hanging over my head what can I do?
Not being able to get a McDonald’s job, or even a job in B&Q, is so demoralising that I have lost all the fight I have. Getting out of bed is a fight I have every day, because I know I am not going to achieve anything.
I am in college turning my life back around but I still seem to face the same problem day in, day out, not being able to work. Yes, I know I did a bad thing to go to prison in the first place, but do I deserve to pay for it for the rest of my life?
Indeterminate sentence? More like my indeterminate hell. I am one of the lucky ones who has managed to make it out of prison, and my heart goes out to the rest of my fellow IPP prisoners, because once they get out they will have to go through everything I have, with no hope and one door closing after another.
Thanks for reading this. Any help or support would go a long way. Thank you.
IMAGES: Still Burning & Bud Green
5 Comments – Post a comment
Stormer007
Commented 14 months ago - 22nd March 2011 - 17:48pm
I'm not sure how to repsond to the subject but the article was great. I really hope you can find something you're good at. I wish you the very best.
Kinghamster
Commented 14 months ago - 22nd March 2011 - 19:06pm
That seems really difficult but there must be people out there that can help. I dont have one of those and got good GCSEs and am struggling to find a job it is really hard. Hang on in there and go to your local drop in centre and see if they can help you or try volunteering cause alot of the time that leads to a job. Keep your chin up and keep trying and you ll get there in the end.
janene
Commented 14 months ago - 22nd March 2011 - 21:38pm
life hasn,t been easy for you, the governent should not put change the law willi nily, as they do , all well putting in a new laws as in ipps, when they haven,t put in anything on the other side, for when people get releasd from prison, it is a breach of human rights, if you have been told you are unemployable, as your sentance will never be spent, so all the course,s you have done to better yourself ect, is another expense to the goverment, to which, the goverment through the court of law, has made you unemployable, so where is the sense in that,everyone should be able to work, keep going, i hope the law changes, and they sort out this big mess that they have made, everyone deserves a second chance at life, the law is a ass, i wish you all the luck in the world, fight for your rights
ahotboy2k
Commented 14 months ago - 23rd March 2011 - 10:54am
thank you every one for the surporting meassages. yes life hasnt been easy at all and i do agree the goverment need a kick up rhe bum and start sorting things like this out. other wise in the not so far future the prison systeam will be at bracking point with IPP recalls thats over 10,000 less spaces in the systeam its one massive joke
Meic
Commented 14 months ago - 30th March 2011 - 15:17pm
Hi ahotboy2k,
www.meiccymru.org.
Thanks for posting your comments on CLIC and for being so open and honest about your situation.
Meic are an information, advice and support Helpline for children and young people living in Wales up to the age of 25. You can contact us directly by phone (080880 23456) text (84001) or chat via instant message on our website
In response to your comments, I suppose the first thing to say is there is no easy solution to the difficulties you are facing, but hopefully some of the suggestions we make may be of use to you.
It sounds as if you have gone a long way towards turning your life around and I can hear how frustrated you are by not being able to find a job to support yourself and your family. It’s good that you have been out of prison for almost two years and that you have returned to education and are studying in college.
You said you feel there is no light at the end of the tunnel and its a struggle for you at the moment. It sounds as if you have done everything that has been asked of you since leaving prison and I can see how hard you are trying. It’s good to hear that you have a family and hopefully their support will help.
I have done some research for you and this is what I’ve found:
You may well have heard of NACRO Cymru, they may be able to offer you some advice and guidance.
I have also come across an independent charity called UNLOCK which was formed by reformed offenders and this particular section gives some good tips about how to try and get a job with a criminal conviction.
I found UNLOCK on the Prince’s Trust Website. There is lots of useful information on the site and it looks as if there might even be an opportunity for you to apply for a training course which involves, amongst other things, a chance to do work experience - which could provide an opportunity for you to impress an employer.
You say that while you were in prison you “proved” you “could be trusted again” and clearly this will be vitally important to any potential employer. Something you may like to consider is volunteering with an organisation that interests you. This could be a good way of building up your skills and confidence and also of showing people that if given the chance, you could be a valuable member of their team.
I hope that you will find some of that information useful. If you would like to contact us to talk about anything further, we are available 24 hours a day.
Kind Regards
The MEIC Team