The Lasting Trauma of Wrongful Conviction

The psychological effects of being wrongfully accused and convicted are profound and enduring. Paddy Hill, a member of the Birmingham Six, describes the overwhelming feelings of fear and anger that persisted long after his release from prison. He asserts that even after two decades, he struggles with feelings of not being a free man, as his experiences in maximum security prisons shaped an ingrained sense of panic and mistrust. Hill illustrates this trauma by recounting intense panic attacks triggered by everyday interactions in society, highlighting how his perceptions of danger were deeply skewed by years of incarceration.