Rotting on Remand
Innocence Denied: Reflections on Pretrial Incarceration
Lyrics
I stood before the judge that day
I faced the judge in court on that day
As he refused me bail
The judge denied my request for release on bail
And I knew that I would spend my time
I realized I would be incarcerated while awaiting trial
Awaiting trial in jail
I would spend the waiting period in jail
I said there is no justice
I expressed my belief that there is no justice
As they led me out of the door
I protested as they escorted me out
And the judge said, "this isn't a court of justice, son
The judge clarified that it's a court of law, not justice
This is a court of law."
Emphasizing the procedural aspect of the court
They first sent me to Windsor
I was transferred to Windsor
And then to stoke on Trent
Then moved to Stoke on Trent
In a holding cell in Liverpool
I spent three days and nights in a Liverpool holding cell
Three days and nights I spent
Highlighting the difficult conditions of confinement
My solicitor can't find me
My solicitor couldn't locate me
And my family don't know
My family was unaware of my situation
I keep telling them that I'm innocent
I continued to assert my innocence
They just say, "come on son, in you go."
Family and advisors urged me to accept the situation
I was picked up on suspicion of something I haven't done
I was arrested under suspicion for a crime I didn't commit
Here I sit in 'f' wing waiting for my trial to come
Currently in 'F' wing, awaiting trial
It's a cruel unusual punishment that society demands
Commenting on the harsh punishment society imposes
Innocent till proven guilty, rotting on remand
Presumption of innocence, yet suffering while on remand
I ended up in this jail
I found myself in a jail built in 1882
Built in 1882
Referencing the historical context of the prison
When one man to one prison cell
When one prisoner per cell was a Victorian value
Was a Victorian value
Now, overcrowded with three prisoners per cell
Now three of us are squeezed in here
Describing the unpleasant conditions
And you can't escape the smell
The smell is pervasive
Of that bucket in the corner
Highlighting the unsanitary environment
And we eat in here as well
Referring to basic living conditions, including meals
They let me out of this cage
I am allowed out briefly to clean the cell
To slop that bucket out
To dispose of waste
To get my food and bring it back
To collect and eat my meals
And if I'm lucky, get a shower
Occasionally getting a shower
Apart from one hour's exercise
Except for one hour of exercise, I remain confined
I'm locked in here all day
Commenting on the lack of rehabilitation efforts
You don't turn criminals into citizens
A critical perspective on the prison system
By treating them this way
Suggesting that mistreatment doesn't reform individuals
Is the price of law and order the stench of wormwood scrubs
Questioning the cost of maintaining law and order
With judges quick to sentence more down from above
Expressing dissatisfaction with quick sentencing
It's a cruel unusual punishment that society demands
Reiterating the harsh punishment imposed by society
Innocent till proven guilty, rotting on remand
Emphasizing the paradox of being presumed innocent yet suffering on remand
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