Poetic Justice

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others.

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims.

Episode 1, Treadmill is recorded inside HMP Brixton, a busy South London prison for adult males. Prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those who may be at risk entering the vicious circle of crime and incarceration.

Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler

A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

At HMP Brixton, prisoners write poems to their younger selves and to those at risk.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others.

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims.

Episode 2: Hope

Recorded inside HMP Styal, a women's prison near Manchester, where Mr Gee hears about the despair of imprisonment and the importance of family bonds from a group of women who find reason to be optimistic about their time in prison.

Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler

A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

Women prisoners tell of the despair of imprisonment and the importance of family bonds.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others.

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims.

Episode 3: Crossroads

Recorded inside HMP YOI Brinsford, a Young Offenders' establishment in the West Midlands. Mr Gee encourages a group of young men to listen to the advice of older men serving long term prison sentences, talking about the disastrous decisions they made as youngsters. He encourages the teenagers to write to their families and loved ones in poetry.

Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler

A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

At HMP YOI Brinsford, Mr Gee encourages teenagers to write to their loved ones in poetry.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others.

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims.

Episode 4: Reflection

Recorded in Surrey with former prisoners. A remarkable group of people come together to pass on - in poetry - the result of many years of contemplation on events and decisions which led them in to trouble and out of it again.

Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler

A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

Former prisoners pass on, in poetry, the result of many years of contemplation.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime

Prison is a place where men and women are forced to look into themselves, where they have the time and the solitude to reflect on their lives and the consequences of their actions. Often this introspection finds an outlet through poetry.

Each day this week, performance poet Mr Gee visits former prisoners, young people who are considered to be at risk of offending, and those currently held in custody.

In each episode, Mr Gee facilitates a poetry-writing workshop. Through the deeply personal discussions that take place during the creative process, and through the poetry produced, we discover moving and powerful accounts of how the participants have been affected by the wounds they have both sustained and inflicted on others.

The goal is to help the participants avoid trouble in the future, helping them understand the roots of their offending behaviour and hopefully reducing the number of potential victims.

Episode 5: Boundaries

Featuring young people in Edinburgh at risk of offending, who give Mr Gee a tour of the local areas where allegiances provide both a sense of community and a source of rivalry and conflict.

Produced by Andrew Wilkie and Adam Fowler

A Prison Radio Association production for BBC Radio 4.

Young people in Edinburgh at risk of offending give Mr Gee a tour of the local areas.

Poet Mr Gee inspires prisoners to reflect lyrically on their experiences of life and crime