Matthew Booth, now a fugitive living in a tent, lamented his situation, stating, 'What am I going back for? What crime have I committed? If I had committed a crime I would understand. It's not happening, I would rather kill myself.' His words reflect his despair over being penalized without having committed a new offense, highlighting the emotional toll of living under strict and indefinite imprisonment regulations.
Abigail Vernon, the mother of Matthew's children, voiced her frustration, saying, 'He's still being punished for something he did when he was 15 years old. Every time he gets out and starts building his life back up again it gets taken away.' This underscores the longstanding impact of the IPP sentences on individuals and their families, suggesting a disconnect between rehabilitation and punishment.
Despite changes to the justice system, the legacy of IPP sentences persists, as highlighted in the article: 'IPP jail terms - under which offenders were handed a minimum jail term but no maximum - were ditched over human rights concerns in 2012, seven years after they were introduced... [leaving] thousands trapped with no release date until the sentence is served.'
The campaign group IPP Committee in Action supports Matthew, calling for intervention from the justice secretary: 'We urge Shabana Mahmood to use new powers to intervene and cancel his recall.' Their advocacy reflects ongoing concerns regarding the justice system's handling of IPP sentences and the realities faced by those impacted.
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