The speaker, Noah, shares his experiences as a former armed robber and inmate in a UK prison. He describes the harsh conditions, violence, and paranoia that exist within the prison system. Noah explains how he was known as "Razor" for over 35 years and spent time in various prisons, including a top-security facility, where he was given eight life sentences plus 80 years in concurrent sentences.
Noah details the brutal reality of prison life, including the prevalence of violence, the use of makeshift weapons, and the exploitation of vulnerable inmates. He also touches on the issue of drug use in prisons, particularly the rise of synthetic substances, and the ways in which they are smuggled and used by inmates.
A turning point in Noah's life came when his 19-year-old son died, and he was denied permission to attend the funeral. This event led him to reevaluate his life and consider changing his ways. Despite the challenges and dangers of prison life, Noah began to seek a new path, one that would ultimately lead him to become the editor of the prison magazine.
Throughout the conversation, Noah's narrative is interspersed with descriptions of the prison environment, including the cells, showers, and kitchens, which serve to further illustrate the harsh realities of life behind bars.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The speaker's name is Noah, and he was previously known as "Razor".
2. Noah spent 35 years as an armed robber in London.
3. He was arrested and received eight life sentences plus 80 years in concurrent sentences.
4. Noah was told by a judge that he would never be released from prison.
5. He spent time in solitary confinement in a punishment block.
6. In the punishment block, prisoners were not allowed to speak, sing, or whistle.
7. Prisoners in the punishment block received exercise only every two weeks for half an hour.
8. Prisoners in the punishment block received a shower every 10 weeks.
9. The cells in the punishment block were very small and had no toilet or sink.
10. Prisoners would often use any available object as a weapon.
11. The speaker describes a common violent act in prison called "jerking", where a group of prisoners would attack one person with sharp objects.
12. The speaker describes another violent act called "teabagging", where a prisoner would be scalded with boiling water.
13. In some prisons, prisoners with HIV or AIDS were not allowed to work in the kitchens.
14. The speaker describes the paranoia and violence that exists in prison.
15. The use of synthetic drugs, such as spice, has become a major problem in prisons.
16. The speaker's 19-year-old son died while he was in prison.
17. The speaker was not allowed to attend his son's funeral.
18. The speaker had to beg a security governor to allow him to attend his son's funeral, but was denied.
19. The security governor had a personal grudge against the speaker.
20. The speaker was devastated by his son's death and began to reevaluate his life and behavior.
21. The speaker realized that his behavior in prison had contributed to his situation and decided to change his ways.
22. The speaker's son's death was a major catalyst for his change in behavior.