Imagine spending longer in prison than you’ve been alive. For children handed a life sentence, this can be the reality.

Penelope and Rob are joined by Dr Susie Hulley, a research consultant who has led research into child life sentences, and Ryan, who was convicted to serve a minimum of 16 years aged 15, to discuss the experience of life sentences for children, policies supporting ever-longer minimum terms, and whether this extreme sentence is ever appropriate for children.

Further resources

Read Susie’s work: https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/default/files/u223/PSJ%20275%2C%20Child%20lifers.pdf

Hear from child lifers who took part in Susie’s research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lGjITOJgxk

Learn more about JENGbA’s campaign to abolish life sentences for children: https://www.thejusticegap.com/morally-indefensible-a-radical-new-campaign-aims-to-abolish-life-sentences-for-children/

Transform Justice

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@transformjustice.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Transform Justice podcast is hosted by Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen and produced and edited by Alexandra Kimmons.