Joe Outlaw, a 40-year-old man from the UK, has spent 15 years in prison for a crime that usually carries a maximum sentence of just four years. His case has reignited debates over the now-abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) scheme, which allowed judges to impose indefinite sentences.
A Flawed System
Outlaw was originally convicted in 2008 of attempted robbery. Despite the typical four-year tariff for such offences, he received an IPP sentence - meaning he could be held indefinitely until deemed no longer a risk to the public.
The Human Cost
Now, after serving nearly four times the standard sentence, Outlaw remains behind bars. His family describes his deteriorating mental health and the hopelessness of not knowing when, or if, he'll be released.
Political Backlash
The IPP scheme was scrapped in 2012 after widespread criticism, but not retrospectively. This leaves nearly 3,000 prisoners, including Outlaw, still serving these controversial sentences.
Campaigners argue this represents one of the greatest injustices in the UK's modern justice system, with many IPP prisoners having served far longer than their original tariffs.
