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5 live listeners have told Nicky Campbell about their experiences from behind bars after he asked, "what's going on inside our prisons?" on Your Call.

Former prisoner Carl believes the prison service is "failing society" by keeping inmates with mental health issues "locked in a box" for up to 23 hours a day.

He described hearing people "wail like dogs" from within their cells, saying he believed they needed "psychiatric care" rather than prison sentences.

Michael said the four weeks he experienced in prison were "life changing" and that an "aura of violence and no hope" within the jail lead to inmates harming themselves on a weekly basis.

Since the programme aired on 3rd November 2016, a riot has taken place at HMP Bedford and two prisoners have gone missing from Pentonville Prison in London.

Last week, Justice Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a White Paper detailing 拢1.3bn investment in new prisons over the next five years, and plans for 2,100 extra officers, drug tests and more autonomy for governors.

The clip is originally from 5 live's Your Call on 3rd November 2016.

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