Erwin James

Erwin James was born to itinerant Scottish parents in 1957. A family lifestyle described as, “brutal and rootless” by a prison psychologist following the death of his mother when James was 7, led to a limited formal education. Aged 10 he was sleeping rough when he gained his first criminal conviction, for the burglary of a sweet shop, which resulted in him being taken into care.

He left the care home at 15 and spent the rest of his teenage and early adult years drifting and often sleeping rough. During that time he also committed relatively petty but occasionally violent crimes (criminal damage, common assault.) His directionless way of life, which included a period as a fugitive in the French Foreign Legion continued, until 1984 when he began his life sentence for murder.?

James went to prison an inarticulate and ill-educated individual with, in his own words, “massive failings to overcome.” With few apparent skills, his prison beginnings were unpromising. After some encouragement, he embarked on a programme of part-time education. 6 years later he graduated with the Open University, gaining an arts degree in History. Around the same time he developed an interest in writing. His first article in The Guardian appeared in 1998 and he began writing a regular column for the paper entitled A Life Inside. The columns were the first of their kind in the history of British journalism.

James Erwin is a patron of Blue Sky, the award winning social enterprise company that trains and employs ex-offenders. He also now works full-time as a freelance writer.

A Q&A session will follow.