Joe Ligon: America's 'longest juvenile lifer' on 68 years in prison

[Judi Lynn]

By Swaminathan Natarajan & Lauren Potts
BBC World Service

Published 4 days ago

America's "longest juvenile lifer" recently walked out of prison a free man. Joe Ligon spoke to BBC World Service about spending nearly seven decades in jail, why he waited so long for freedom, and how he intends to spend the rest of his days.

"I've never been alone, but I am a loner. I prefer to be alone as much as I possibly can. Being in prison, I've been in a single cell all this time, from the time of my arrest all the way up until my release.

"That helps people like me, who want to be alone - I was the type of person, once I went in the cell and closed the door, whatever was going on, I didn't see or hear nothing. When we were allowed to have the radio and TV - that was my company."

It's perhaps fair to say that prison life rather suited Joe Ligon, to a degree. It allowed him to keep his head down, his mouth shut and out of trouble - all lessons, he says, he has learned in his 68 years behind bars.

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57022924

[secondwind]

1. This is unconscionable !!!!

We need to reform our criminal justice system. Unbelievable......

[Botany]

2. Sorry but in 1953 ...

"He trails off. But he admits the night ended in a stabbing spree in which he was involved, violence
which left two people dead and six injured."