2. There were around 550 custodial sentences given
to people under the age of 18 in the year ending
March 2022.Join young, relatable presenter as
they find out what happens when they are
released and the harsh reality of life beyond bars.
During the pandemic, the number of youth first time entrants to the
youth justice system fell by the largest amount in eight years. Most types
of offences, including violent crimes, were down. However, as
restrictions have eased, police report rises in violence and robberies. This
documentary will not focus however on sentencing or their time on a
custodial sentence but the challenges they face when leaving and re-
joining the community from integrating back into family life to finding
education and work. The presenter will not only speak with experts in
this field ranging from parole officers to medical professionals but also
pose as a young offender recently released to experience and see first-
hand the challenges they face and the temptation of going back to their
old way. The presenter might join online forums or join friend
groups/gangs with a fake name and backstory to get a true insight into
the mind of a young offender recently released.
Main Theme-Plot Overview
3. Existing Quotes from Young Offenders
• I didn’t like it, being outside. I was scared. I didn’t even want to leave, I just wanted to go back to my cell really. I
knew I was free, but I was scared because I didn’t know what to do with it.
• It’s like someone throwing you out of a plane, with nothing strapped on. How the hell am I gonna ride this wind?
• I couldn’t handle it, like the first day I couldn’t handle being out of prison. I just couldn’t stop crying and felt
depressed all the time.
• When you’re in prison and someone starts taking the piss, you have to stand your ground. When you get out, you’re
always on your guard. You’re extra paranoid. You’ll be thinking someone’s following you. It’s a weird feeling; it’s not a
good feeling. I was pretty scared of going out actually. All the noise and stuff like that.
• In the first couple of weeks your mates get in touch and they know you’ve got no money. They’ll be like, ‘Come and
do this with us, you’ll be fine’. All sorts of crime, it’s tempting. It’s easy to go back to it… It depends on the person
concerned being determined not to go back to it… The first two weeks, when you can start reoffending… It was
tempting, because some of them are into drugs and have pots of money and I was like, *sigh*.
6. Structure overview
Interview with mental health professional: Presenter could speak with a mental health professional who have worked with
young offenders to tell them what they can expect challenges they may come across, tips to stay mentally sound and check them
to see if they are prepared to go through it.
Interview with a parole officer : Again, this interview would have the presenter talk to a professional who works with young
offenders and tell the presenter about what to expect such as re-offending rates and gang activity upon being released, could
suggest how the presenter could contact them and how to act/talk around them to fit in.
Beginning of the experiment: The presenter starts the transformation into this new person such as getting a new identity
learning their backstory having their possessions removed, no money, dropped off outside a prison left alone, making social
media accounts for this new persona, we see how they are contacted/targeted who they befriend.
Middle of the experiment: The presenter will either get involved with a group of new friends under a false identity whether
they are good friends or not and try to live life like them wearing hidden cameras to try and gain an insight into their life and if
any of them have recently left prison or have family or know people in prison and what it's like for them. Hopefully, the presenter
will become fully immersed in this lifestyle and understand what it's like once the security and routine of a prison is taken away.
They may try to access education or find a job which will allow the audience to see what it's like to try and re-integrate into
society with a criminal record.
End of the experiment: Hopefully, the presenter has taken the audience on a journey of what challenges are faced by ex-
offenders and how hard reintegrating into society can be. Involved in every part of the journey however avoiding illegal activity
that may happen and the conflict within themselves considering how one mistake can affect the rest of their life.
