Stressed out by a mountain of work and an upcoming family holiday, Joe jokingly wishes for a short prison sentence just to escape his responsibilities. This thought leads him into a deep look at the reality of the Irish penal system, starting with a wild story about the time he unknowingly gave a lift to a fugitive on his way to hand himself in.
Joe talks to Robert and Damien, who both served significant time behind bars. Damien tells Joe about his tough upbringing, how he tried to stay away from a life of crime, and the time he hit a garda so he could speed up his passage into jail. Robert talks about the harsh reality of the Garda vetting process and how even a small time in prison can ruin someone's life.
Joe also speaks with Philip Larragy, CEO of the charity Release, which helps prisoners integrate back into society when they get out of jail. Explicit.
