My brother, Leroy Douglas, has been locked up for over 20 years under an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. He was caught in the system for a minor offense — stealing a phone — and his time served has been grossly disproportionate to his crime. It pains me to realize that, after two decades of imprisonment, he is now facing release conditions that would place him in a bail hostel three hours away from his family home.

Leroy has paid his dues, endured years of repentance, and shown remarkable personal growth while in prison. Placing him in a bail hostel hours away from the support network he so desperately needs to reintegrate into society is not only cruel but senseless. Like so many others caught under the controversial IPP system, Leroy is yet another victim to whom the justice system has not been kind. The permanent lingering of this sentence — which was supposed to protect the public — now unjustly burdens him and our family.

Success in releasing Leroy to a location close to our family will ensure he receives the emotional, mental, and social support required for a healthy reintegration into society. It is well-documented that familial support plays a crucial role in preventing recidivism and promoting effective rehabilitation. The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged these benefits time and again, yet Leroy's case highlights a severe oversight in applying this understanding.

We implore the authorities to act with compassion and reason in such cases. By allowing Leroy to return closer to home, the justice system can correct a part of the years' worth of oversight and delay that has compounded his suffering and ours. His family is ready to welcome him back with open arms, providing the support system he never had while being lost in this unforgiving system.

We must act urgently to stop this unnecessary distance from being created. Please sign the petition and help bring Leroy Douglas home where he belongs, so he can start a new life surrounded by those who love him.