Much seems to have changed for the better since then. However, there are a number of problems which seem to persist – both in the US and here in the UK.

One of the most pernicious of these problems is that someone with little propensity for violence before prison is likely to discover that pre-emptive violence may be the best way to protect their interests in prison. Jack Abbott highlights this tendency towards offence as the best form of defence in prison throughout “In the Belly of the Beast”.

There is much talk of prisons being universities of crime. This description may evoke images of prisoners discussing safe-cracking and money laundering techniques. Hardly an ideal outcome for society.

How much worse though is the issue that prison may turn non-violent people into aggressors? Having learned to rely on violence for survival in prison, what is to stop the hardened prisoner relying on aggression following release?

Yet another reason why prison sentences for non-violent offences are such a disaster for society, in addition to their excessive costs and – in the majority of cases – failure to rehabilitate.

If you miss the radio play, you can read more about this murder and why it could have been avoided by following this link to the Zahid Mubarek Trust’s website.