'Inmates aren't used to people being nice to them'

Published on Monday 7 January 2008 21:29

I SEE quite a number of guys when they come out of prison. Once they've been out a while, it's important they get help and assistance.

One of the things is that the whole prison experience is extremely traumatising. People can develop very complicated forms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

There is something qualitatively different about being in prison when you haven't committed the crime you were sentenced for. It's especially difficult because you cannot get on with the system unless you actually accept your guilt.

The change will be even greater for Kenny because he has spent the last 20 years incarcerated in another country, where the culture is different.

Prisoners are usually just dumped on the street, given very little support. The irony is if you are guilty and see out your prison sentence, there is rehab and other support waiting for you. But in cases like Kenny's, there is no extra state support.

Kenny's been manacled on Death Row for 21 years. The contrast with the life that awaits him is almost unimaginable. A lot of guys think life's going to be great, that everything's good. But the reality can often be very different. That's when the anger comes out.

Relationships can also be very difficult to handle. People will get on each others' nerves, because long-term prisoners are not used to people being nice to them, and caring for them. Mothers and fathers don't know why their sons don't want to speak to them, why they are so angry when they should be happy.

&#149 Dr Ian Stephen is a psychologist who has spent 30 years working with the victims of miscarriages of justice.