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00:00So Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.
00:06What do his next 24 to 48 hours look like?
00:09So he's already spent several days in custody since the conviction.
00:13So he will have gone through the induction process at the prison.
00:18So the day that he was remanded in custody pending today's sentencing,
00:27ordinarily he would have been able to have made one three-minute phone call,
00:30which is called a reception phone call, that evening,
00:33which is around 6 or 7 p.m. based on the time that he would have been taken to the
00:38prison.
00:39Thereafter, we've got the process that starts with him being given some money.
00:45Usually it's five or ten pounds just to sort of get essentials.
00:49I don't know whether he would have packed a bag and taken items with him that day.
00:56Obviously, most solicitors, barristers may tip their clients off to say,
01:01well, look, if the verdict doesn't go our way and the judge doesn't grant you bail,
01:06then you could be remanded, hence bring a bag of essential items.
01:11Anything that he'd taken in that the prison wouldn't allow him to have,
01:15they'd obviously take out.
01:16But you're talking about essential clothes, toothbrush, toiletries, that kind of stuff.
01:23What happens now is obviously he's taken back to prison,
01:28processed now as a serving prisoner.
01:32And obviously there'll be assessments as to arranging,
01:37looking after his welfare, safety and any sort of immediate needs.
01:41And obviously the prison will want to accommodate his needs.
01:45It's no prison wants any issues.
01:49So it's a headache for the prison, for the staff that are involved,
01:54if they have to report an incident of violence or whatever else it may be.
01:59So they'll want an easy life as well.
02:03But what will happen, I think, for the next few weeks is he will be at Wandsworth Prison,
02:08where he's been, where he's been at, until he's processed to a different prison,
02:13based on security, safety, rehabilitation needs, etc.
02:18You mentioned security.
02:19What kind of security level prison do you think Brand should be in,
02:23or most likely will be in?
02:25There'll be different prisons that can accommodate for different things.
02:27I mean, each prison is likely to have a, what we may call a vulnerable person's wing.
02:33And that may be down to the risk to the prisoner.
02:39And given Brand's celebrity status, there may be a risk to him.
02:43But also people that have been convicted of certain types of offences,
02:47such as this, such as rape and sexual offences.
02:50But also people that may be recovering from drug abuse, have mental health issues.
02:56So that's the usual type of inmate that's on a vulnerable person wing.
03:02Wandsworth will have a vulnerable person wing.
03:05Other prisons will have as well.
03:06But there is an issue of overcrowding in UK prisons.
03:11It's been a problem that we've had for many, many years.
03:16Gross underfunding.
03:18Prisons are overcrowded.
03:20It's not easy to just pick up and build a new prison.
03:25So what is happening is, and what's happened in this year,
03:29there have been certain changes that have meant some prisoners are being released early.
03:34The situation for Russell Brand is that he may not qualify for those circumstances,
03:41given the type of offending.
03:43So each offence is dealt with on its own basis.
03:46So a drug supply conviction, a fraud conviction, usually they are lower risk to society, to people.
03:55Therefore, they're ticking the boxes for early release.
03:59Whereas anyone that's convicted of a violent or a sexual offence,
04:03there's more safeguarding required before they can be released into the public.
04:08Well, I was actually going to ask that.
04:10What are the chances that he is released early?
04:14And if he is released early, how much earlier could he be released?
04:17So, like I said, it will depend on safeguarding needs.
04:22And what he'll have to do, most prisoners will have to do is attend courses
04:28and engage in that process before they're eligible for release.
04:32But given Russell Brand's offence, the allegations, or sorry, the convictions,
04:39it'll be much later on in his sentence before he's eligible for release.
04:43The prison that he's at now, I know he's only going to be there for a few weeks.
04:46However, it does have a reputation for being one of the worst prisons
04:50in regards to inhumane conditions, violent offenders.
04:56What have you heard during your experience with your clients about this prison?
05:02Do you think that it is somewhere where Brand will be safe?
05:07Are those stories of the inhumane conditions true?
05:10They're not as bad as maybe some prisons across the world.
05:16But is there violence in prisons?
05:20Are drugs available in prison?
05:22Yes.
05:24Can duty overcrowding issues?
05:27Are certain cells designed for, let's say, two people that end up housing
05:32more than two people?
05:33Yes.
05:34Are there problems with vermin or that sort of thing?
05:40Yes.
05:42But the overcrowding is the biggest issue and the understuffing.
05:48So especially, particularly during the time of COVID,
05:52and we're several years on from that now,
05:54but especially during the time of COVID,
05:56people were given sort of one hour, if that, out of their cell.
06:01And that seems to have continued.
06:03So there could be prospects that there isn't as much time out of one cell.
06:10And also the availability for courses, for employment,
06:15for general association time isn't as such as one would like.
06:22Someone would like to say that they could be out of their cell,
06:25normal association time, meal time, shower times.
06:28But things can be quite restricted,
06:31especially if you think about fewer members of staff
06:34trying to manage a greater number of inmates.
06:38They can't just release a whole block, a whole wing of people out.
06:42And there's only two security, two prison guards watching them.
06:46Because if something does happen,
06:48again, it's on the prison's head to deal with that.
06:50Do they get outside time and recreational time?
06:53There will be association time in the yard.
06:56But again, each prison is different.
06:59Each prison will have its own requirements.
07:02But in particular, if somebody is in a vulnerable person's wing,
07:07then the need for a greater number of prison staff
07:11to manage and look after them while they are out on association time is greater.
07:16Therefore, time can be quite limited.
07:19Wow.
07:19And how do you think inmates typically spend their time in their cell?
07:24I mean, they're in there for a majority of their stay.
07:27Are they able to read books,
07:31you know, participate in any virtual programs?
07:37Books, magazines, writing, of course,
07:39that can be available if there are any sort of online courses
07:43or virtual courses where questions and answers and booklets can be posted in and out.
07:53That can be done.
07:53He's likely to have a television in his cell.
07:56Certain prisons do have other sort of privileges,
07:59such as games consoles or radios and the like.
08:05But that's usually what the cells are restricted to.
08:10It'll always depend on which prison as well as to whether there is a phone in the cell or on
08:16the wing.
08:19And that can be used as and when there may be certain restrictions,
08:24but that can be used as and when depending on whether the individual inmate has credit to make those calls.
08:31Do you know if HMP Wainsworth has the phones in the cell and television in their cells?
08:38I believe they do.
08:39I think televisions, yes.
08:41Televisions, yes.
08:42I believe they do have telephones in the cell.
08:45Any calls that are made on the prison phone are monitored.
08:51There'll be, again, sort of arrangements made to make sure that it's an approved list of numbers
08:59and whoever Mr. Brand or any other inmate does call have approved that they're happy for him to make calls
09:07to them.
09:07Is there a limit to phone time?
09:09It's usually down to, if the phone is in a prison cell,
09:13then the only conflict they may have is making the call that conflicts with another cellmate.
09:22So if it is in the cell, then as long as that person has phone credit,
09:27so enough money on the system, then they can probably make as many phone calls as they like.
09:33Obviously, Russell Brand is well known in America as well as the UK.
09:40Do you think his celebrity status will help him in prison or will hurt him in prison?
09:45So his days in prison will be governed by a prison timetable,
09:51so eating, exercising, if he undertakes any employment, etc.
09:57He'll be treated like anyone else.
10:01I don't think there'll be any sort of special treatment.
10:05Officially, unofficially within the prison system,
10:08there'll be people in there that have connections
10:13and can accommodate other inmates better than others,
10:19if I could phrase it in that way.
10:21So there may be additional privileges in that way, maybe unofficially.
10:26But his profile and the nature of,
10:28in particular the nature of his convictions,
10:31could make him vulnerable to unwanted attention, let's just say,
10:36possibly bullying or threats.
10:38The staff would need to assess that
10:42and they would look at whether there can be any protective arrangements made
10:46in order to ensure that no harm was to come to him or any other inmate.
10:52Can you tell me, if you were speaking to Brand today,
10:56what advice would you give him in prison
10:58to ensure that he does, you know, stay out of,
11:03because obviously at the end of the day,
11:04like good behaviour does help your sentence.
11:07You know, advice to give him to kind of stay out of trouble.
11:10I think most of the advice for anyone going to prison,
11:12especially for the first time,
11:14is keep your wits about you,
11:17keep your head down,
11:19listen and look and see how things are done.
11:22Don't try and upset the apple cart, as it were.
11:26I think very quickly there could be friends made in prison.
11:32Whether they are actually looking out for him or not,
11:35that remains to be seen.
11:36I know that when Chris Brown served a period in custody,
11:43I believe it was in Manchester,
11:45for his court case recently,
11:47once he'd come out,
11:49there was someone that had apparently done Mr Brown some favours,
11:53who wasn't very kind about Mr Brown.
11:56So what may look,
11:58with all intents and purposes initially,
12:00as somebody that's being friendly
12:02and is there to offer advice or help,
12:05may not be the case.
12:06So the advice would be,
12:07keep your head down,
12:09keep your wits about you,
12:10and just be careful.
12:12So Brand has a wife,
12:14who has supported him throughout his trial.
12:17They also have children together.
12:19Could you tell me a little bit about,
12:21what the rules are regarding families?
12:23Will he be able to spend time,
12:25playing with his children?
12:27Will he be able to kiss his wife?
12:29Specifically this prison,
12:30just because we don't know where he's going yet,
12:32what would you say the rules are?
12:34Most, if not all prisoners,
12:35will have the same rules.
12:37There'll be rules about,
12:38what somebody can wear,
12:40when they come to a visit,
12:42when they go to see an inmate.
12:45Usually visits are done in a large hall.
12:49Let's say there's Russell Brand's wife
12:52and children.
12:54They would all be able to attend.
12:56There may be some issues
12:58with the children attending,
13:00given, again,
13:01it's down to the type of offence
13:03that Mr Brown's been convicted of.
13:05So there'll need to be approval
13:06and safeguarding requirements
13:08in relation to that.
13:10But there'll be visits that are,
13:14like I said,
13:15in a large sort of communal hall.
13:17There'll be a canteen in there,
13:19so teas, coffees,
13:20chocolate snacks.
13:22Children can play.
13:23And that'll be done
13:26to keep things as normal as possible,
13:28primarily for the innocent third parties
13:30in this,
13:31in particular the children.
13:33Will he be able to kiss his wife?
13:35Any contact would need to be very limited.
13:39It isn't the case
13:40that there's some visits
13:43where he can be too intimate.
13:46I think you guys in the States
13:49may have that, but...
13:50Oh yeah, do you have conjugal visits?
13:52No, no, no.
13:54So he'll be able to see his children.
13:59There'll be regular visits.
14:01We call it a visiting order.
14:03So Russell Brown would have to send out
14:05a VO visiting order
14:07for the people that he'd like to visit him.
14:11And it'll all be down to wherever he is,
14:14down to whatever requirements
14:16that that prison has
14:17as to the number of visits
14:19that he may be eligible to have.
14:21How long is visitation typically?
14:24How many days a week is someone...
14:26Can someone visit you
14:27and how long can that last?
14:28Can be up to sort of two to three times a week.
14:32So he could get regular visits.
14:35Each visit would, again,
14:37depend on the prison,
14:38but it won't be less than an hour.
14:40It's unlikely to be more than
14:41two and a half hours.
14:43So it's all down to the prison's availability.
14:47And as I said,
14:48it can be quite regular.
14:50What do you think the hardest thing
14:51for him will be?
14:52I mean, he's going to be in there
14:54for 10 years.
14:56He's going to be 61 when he's released.
14:58What do you think will be
15:00the most difficult challenge for him?
15:02I think given what I've read
15:04and given how long he's been married
15:06and his three children,
15:07I think being away from his family,
15:09having that liberty taken away from you
15:12if you don't have any close family
15:15or children in particular,
15:17but when children are involved,
15:20if you do the maths,
15:21then the eldest child
15:24will be of some age,
15:26at least 17 or 18
15:27by the time he's released.
15:29And of course,
15:30with his younger children,
15:31he loses that time
15:33of going to school,
15:36first day at school
15:37or working the way
15:39through the school system.
15:40So he'll miss out on things
15:42like parents' evening,
15:46graduation.
15:47It's not so much of a big deal
15:49for younger children
15:50as it is in the States,
15:51but he'll miss out
15:52on all those milestones.
15:53So he's very religious.
15:55He went to the sentencing today
15:57holding rosary beads.
15:59Could you tell me about
16:01the religious opportunities
16:03that prisons typically offer,
16:05specifically the one he's in
16:07for a few weeks?
16:08Yeah, most prisons,
16:09again, most if not all prisons,
16:11offer sort of multi-faith facilities,
16:14chaplaincy teams.
16:16It could be that
16:17there is a space
16:20within the prison
16:21that anyone can go to
16:23sort of at any time
16:24or within a certain time.
16:25So it could be allocated time
16:29Thursday morning
16:30or a Friday morning
16:30or a Saturday
16:31or a Sunday morning.
16:32So there'll be the opportunity
16:35to have that support
16:37from anyone coming into the prison,
16:40attend services
16:42and access religious texts.
16:44That should be part of the course.
16:46But it all depends on the prison
16:49and what they can accommodate
16:50in relation to that.
16:52But most prisons
16:54will certainly offer that.
16:56And again,
16:56it goes hand in hand with
16:57if you were not to offer that
17:01on the rehabilitation side of things,
17:04we wouldn't want people
17:06to sort of lose their way
17:07if somebody was religious
17:08to not have that available to them.
17:11Yeah.
17:11A prisoner would want someone
17:13to lose that
17:15if that is going to assist them
17:17in their rehabilitation.
17:18Is he able to appeal?
17:19And could you tell me
17:20a little bit about
17:21the chances of an appeal
17:23becoming successful
17:24with a case like his
17:25and the charges against him?
17:26Yeah.
17:27So there'd be
17:31progression through
17:32the prison system
17:33that would allow him
17:34to be released
17:34towards the end of
17:36towards the end of his sentence.
17:37The point being
17:38that it's literally
17:39not that someone's
17:40locked up for seven years
17:41and on that last day
17:43they open the door
17:43and say,
17:44there you go,
17:45you're back in society.
17:47There'll be reintegration.
17:48There'll be obviously checks
17:50as to where he will stay,
17:51requirements that
17:52if he is allowed
17:53to stay overnight,
17:55that he has to be indoors
17:57by say 7pm
17:58or whatever it may be.
17:59The remaining period,
18:02so the remaining
18:03sort of three years or so,
18:04is something that he'd have to serve
18:06on licence in the community.
18:08So what that means is
18:09if he was to commit
18:11any other offence
18:13during that time,
18:14then he's in breach
18:16of his licence.
18:17So when he's released,
18:18he'll be told,
18:18right,
18:19you must not commit
18:21any further offences,
18:22you must report
18:23to an offender manager
18:24every week,
18:25you must stay contactable,
18:27you can't travel abroad,
18:30it may be certain restrictions
18:32such as that.
18:34So if he's in breach
18:35of any of those conditions,
18:37then he goes back
18:38back into prison.
18:40You asked about
18:41what his day-to-day
18:43will be like.
18:44I think it will be,
18:45for any inmate,
18:47trying to keep
18:48as busy as possible,
18:51it's a lengthy period
18:52of time.
18:52I think he has to
18:53mentally readjust
18:54to that period of time
18:57in custody,
18:58away from his family.
19:01But he has to
19:02sort of look forward
19:03to the fact that
19:04there will be a release
19:05at some point
19:06down the line.
19:07And of course,
19:08like you said,
19:09obviously good behaviour
19:11will always count,
19:12and his engagement
19:14with courses
19:15and the like
19:16will all go in his favour
19:18for whenever
19:19he's released.
19:20So just to clarify,
19:21if he does get released
19:23at the seven-year mark,
19:25because that would be
19:25two-thirds of his sentence,
19:27he doesn't just
19:28get to go home
19:29and have no rules.
19:30He would still be on
19:32a,
19:32not house arrest,
19:34but kind of like
19:34a probation period.
19:36Probation period,
19:37if we phrase it in that way,
19:38we call it being
19:40on licence.
19:41So if somebody commits
19:43any offence
19:44after that,
19:46during that licence period,
19:48then they are recalled
19:49back to prison.
19:50Could be for
19:53days,
19:5456 days,
19:55or it could be
19:56a full-term recall.
19:57So hypothetically,
20:00somebody is convicted
20:01for a drugs offence,
20:03a drug supply offence,
20:04and then they are
20:05convicted again
20:06of an offence
20:07that is similar,
20:09then it's likely
20:10to be for the full term,
20:11the full term
20:13that they're recalled for.
20:15I do want to ask
20:16how the food
20:17in prison typically is,
20:18because in America
20:19it is not good.
20:20So I'm assuming
20:21it's the same in the UK.
20:23In relation to food,
20:24I mean,
20:25what there will be
20:26is obviously
20:27communal dining
20:28and
20:30maybe in a big hall
20:32where
20:32there's
20:33normal sort of food,
20:35chicken,
20:35potatoes,
20:37whatever it may be,
20:38soup and the like.
20:40There's likely to be,
20:42because of the restrictions
20:43with
20:43getting out of the cell,
20:45there's likely to be
20:46literally at lunchtime
20:47and maybe
20:47a packed lunch,
20:50a sandwich,
20:51a carton of juice,
20:52a carton of milk,
20:53a piece of fruit,
20:55crisps and the like.
20:56What
20:57most
20:59prisons will have though
21:00is they'll have
21:01something called
21:01a canteen
21:02where
21:02if you work
21:03or if you have
21:03the money
21:04that's
21:05brought in
21:06by you,
21:07not physically,
21:07it has to be
21:08transferred by a
21:09family member
21:10into an account.
21:12You can buy
21:12certain things,
21:14chocolates,
21:16tuna,
21:17rice,
21:18that kind of stuff.
21:18So you can buy
21:19other things
21:20and what they may
21:21be determined to be
21:22is luxuries
21:23in prison.
21:24these things
21:24in the
21:24and let's
21:25get