Best of 2024: As a teenager, John was jailed for assaulting someone and stealing their bike. That was 17 years ago – will he ever be released?

Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish
some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed
them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why
we’ve chosen it. From June: Indeterminate sentences are devastating
to mental health, but prisoners with mental illness are less likely
to be released. The result is a vicious cycle whereby the most
vulnerable inmates often have the least chance of getting out – as
John’s case shows. By Sophie Atkinson. Help support our independent
journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod