George Simonson says you learn about society by seeing how it treats its prisoners – and jail has strengthened his belief that change is crucialGeorge Simonson, 24, from London, had recently graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Edinburgh when he was given a 24-month custodial sentence for climbing a gantry over the M25 in 2022. He was also found guilty of criminal damage and sentenced to a further six-week custodial sentence for spraying paint on a wall of Exeter University in 2023. He sent this letter from prison before he was released in January.I remember the day I was sentenced like it was yesterday. I was filled with anxiety the entire time. It’s a strange situation to be in, not knowing whether or not you’d have your liberty at the end of the day, or for how long it might be taken away. My mind was racing and I had no idea how to operate. Continue reading...
Climate activist George Simonson, imprisoned for his activism, describes the prison system as "insanely broken," dehumanizing inmates and failing to rehabilitate, leading to high re-offending rates by stripping away stability and creating barriers to reintegration.
