大象传媒

Ken Oliver was 28 when he was convicted of driving a vehicle without the owner's consent - joyriding. His sentence was 52-years-to-life in prison. The punishment was due to what is called the "Three Strikes law". In California, at the time, a criminal convicted of a third serious offence received a potential life sentence. His first two strikes for this jail term were for non-violent crimes.

He was released from prison early, though he did serve 23 years.

He told Nuala McGovern how he celebrated when he got out.

(Photo: Ken Oliver on the right with his father Bernard Oliver. Credit Bernard Oliver)