Rob McKeon: Parole

Sunday 25 May, 12:00pm, Derby College DE24 8JE

Kindly sponsored by East Midlands Business Chamber

Murder. Violent armed robbery. Sexual offence. These are just some of the cases Rob McKeon considers day to day. In this brilliant piece of non-fiction Rob McKeon, a member of the Parole Board, explores how he makes the right call to release prisoners when the stakes are high.

In Parole Rob explains how important it is not to react when the person sat across the table is describing the thrill of looking into their victim’s eyes as they strangled them. He describes what it feels like to read hundreds of pages of a prisoners’ file, containing tragic details of a life gone horribly wrong in one way or another. And he explores the complexities of the system itself: should life mean life? Can people commit awful crimes and be rehabilitated? 

Do violent criminals deserve a second chance? We can’t keep everyone who commits a serious crime in prison indefinitely. That wouldn’t be just or practical. So, when each prisoner comes up for parole, a decision must be made.

For 12 years, Rob has been handling sensitive, complex, and high-profile cases. He offers a unique insight into the cases and characters that have shaped a career where risks are high, and the repercussions can be devastating.