[News] Charles Bronson Parole Hearing.

[Seagull58]

Really tough one this. Watched the documentary recently and bearing in mind he’s served far longer inside than a murderer, it’s easy to understand why he feels he should be released. On the flip side, he’s been inside since 1974, when he was a young man, and you have to think that he will seriously lack the social skills to cope with today’s society. I think I’m on the side of a gradual transition starting with seeing how he behaves in an open prison.

He has spent longer inside because he keeps on starting riots and taking people hostage. If he hadn't regularly offended he would have been out many years ago.

 

[The Clamp]

No one can know for certain, but I tend to agree. A part of me thinks he knows this too. I suspect that what he wants most is his chance to put his side of the story to a world wide audience.

Agreed. As you say, we don't know for certain but a lifetime of taking screws hostage and a rooftop protest do not endear parole boards.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

His new son came across as a complete nut job too. Can’t see how any of that documentary will help a parole hearing.

It seems unfair that he has been behind bars longer than an individual that has killed someone, raped a child or beaten a woman. I also think that prisons are a violent place which breeds the kind of actions he’s been guilty of. He must have felt huge unfairness and mistreatment and given the treatment he has experienced I’m sure an explosion of violence is very possible. I’m not justifying his action but a little context does help.

If he can cope with the modern world which isn’t ruled by violence he should be fine. At 70 he is significantly less likely to be violent.

When was his last violent episode in prison? If it was 7 years plus then he’s served a significant sentence without a black mark. Easy enough if you’re isolated I guess.

Either way he’s gonna earn a few bib when he’s out.

To be fair....had ever been locked up 'unfairly' (in my tiny mind)....I'd have probably gone the same way as him.

Bob, though. It may well be bob.

 

[1066familyman]

That’s not actually true though. Normal location in a Cat B prison is supervised whereas Open conditions are much less so and prisoners are trusted to behave, much as they would be expected to behave in public. It is to help prisoners transition back to civvy street.

Reports that Bronson is on 23 hour lock-up may not be true. I can’t imagine him being considered for parole if he can’t be trusted on normal location.

It largely depends on what cat B prison we're talking about I suspect. One where the screws run it, or one where the inmates do.
Either way, supervision means very little in terms of reduction of volatility.

 

[Seagull58]

No one can know for certain, but I tend to agree. A part of me thinks he knows this too. I suspect that what he wants most is his chance to put his side of the story to a world wide audience.

He says he can control his anger now but he made several outbursts at the hearing today. That indicates he really can't.

 

[SeagullinExile]

No.

Would you release an Islamic Terrorist (sic) to avoid him killing a prison officer? Your logic is krunk.

He hasn’t killed anybody!

 

[The Clamp]

To be fair....had ever been locked up 'unfairly' (in my tiny mind)....I'd have probably gone the same way as him.

Bob, though. It may well be bob.

By all accounts, including his own, he was a violent little shit long before getting banged up for robbing a post office. Obviously it's speculation now but I would think he would have ended up in prison for some violent crime or other before long. Well, threatening post office counter staff with a sawn off shotgun is a fairly violent act in it's own right.

 

[1066familyman]

His publicity craving persona won’t have done him any favours I’m sure. The establishment will probably want to keep him locked up for that, so he doesn’t profit further. Regardless, what a sad life and pathetic creature. Ditto for the apparent legions of his fans. It’s a f***ed up world when people idolise such sociopaths as him and Putin.

Well the cinemas are full of 'action adventure' films and the TV full of 'crime dramas', and people flock to them.

It is indeed a fvcked up world.

 

[Clive Walker]

Context helps, but no way in the world is he suitable for release and no way anyone is going to sanction it.

I think we’ve heard quite a bit about his well publicised exploits in prison. I was drawn to one story he told about the mistreatment he experienced when entering a mental hospital. If that was me I’d feel like fighting back against a system which seemed to have conspired against me. Not sure how true it though.

Again. How long has he been a good boy for?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

He hasn’t killed anybody!

Neither did (ahem, let me brace myself) Hitler!

Pity you can't be so magnanimous with respect to Tony Blair

Eh?

 

[SeagullinExile]

Neither did (ahem, let me brace myself) Hitler!

Pity you can't be so magnanimous with respect to Tony Blair

Eh?

What the f*** has Blair got to do with it you weapon?!

 

[Javeaseagull]

It largely depends on what cat B prison we're talking about I suspect. One where the screws run it, or one where the inmates do.
Either way, supervision means very little in terms of reduction of volatility.

The last I heard is that he is never unlocked without 3 officers being present. I haven’t seen the documentaries and I left the Prison Service 20 years ago so am not up to date with this. The parole board are not going to take a chance imo.

All prisons are run with the goodwill of prisoners. That will probably come as a surprise to most people but having stood on an exercise yard with 3 other officers while 200 inmates take their exercise I can assure you that we did not run the place with fear.

 

[1066familyman]

He says he can control his anger now but he made several outbursts at the hearing today. That indicates he really can't.

Quite.
Paraphrasing... 'FFS, this is going to take all day!'.

Four hours into a process that could ultimately grant your greatest wish, that you've waited donkey's years for, really isn't helping.

 

[dazzer6666]

I think we’ve heard quite a bit about his well publicised exploits in prison. I was drawn to one story he told about the mistreatment he experienced when entering a mental hospital. If that was me I’d feel like fighting back against a system which seemed to have conspired against me. Not sure how true it though.

Again. How long has he been a good boy for?

Think the last offence he was convicted for (violent assault on a prison governor) was in 2014. He was found not guilty of a similar thing more recently

 

[Clive Walker]

The last I heard is that he is never unlocked without 3 officers being present. I haven’t seen the documentaries and I left the Prison Service 20 years ago so am not up to date with this. The parole board are not going to take a chance imo.

All prisons are run with the goodwill of prisoners. That will probably come as a surprise to most people but having stood on an exercise yard with 3 other officers while 200 inmates take their exercise I can assure you that we did not run the place with fear.

Can I get your perspective on one element.

In the doc a former inmate explained that prisons are a jungle of violence. Violence is common and retaliation comes in the form of violence. Defending one’s self can also lead to violence. Punishment is also dished out with violence.

How does an individual cope with life in the open world which is largely not A violent place?

 

[Clive Walker]

Think the last offence he was convicted for (violent assault on a prison governor) was in 2014. He was found not guilty of a similar thing more recently

8-9 years ago then. Best part of a decade.

 

[GT49er]

I suspect he has missed his chance for a Great Escape.

Thank f**k!

 

[The Clamp]

To be objective, there’s probably hundreds of nasty little bastards walking around free in this day and age who have done far worse than Bronson ever did.

 

[dazzer6666]

8-9 years ago then. Best part of a decade.

….compared with his 50+ years of multiple, varied and serious offences (started at 13), both in and out of prison, lifetime of disturbing and erratic behaviour etc etc. Wouldn’t want him anywhere near me or my family I’m afraid.

 

[1066familyman]

The last I heard is that he is never unlocked without 3 officers being present. I haven’t seen the documentaries and I left the Prison Service 20 years ago so am not up to date with this. The parole board are not going to take a chance imo.

All prisons are run with the goodwill of prisoners. That will probably come as a surprise to most people but having stood on an exercise yard with 3 other officers while 200 inmates take their exercise I can assure you that we did not run the place with fear.

What prison, or prisons did you work in?

Having experience of two different cat B prisons, they were most certainly like chalk and cheese. That was also well over 20 years ago too though tbf.

I tend to agree, the parole board are very unlikely to take a chance on this.