Will Charles Bronson ever get parole?
Charles Bronson is one of the most well-known prison inmates in the UK. Despite initially being arrested for petty crimes back in the 1970s, more sentences were given due to his violent outbursts and continuous criminal behaviour. This led to almost 50 years in prison, with small periods of release followed quickly by a return to prison.
As well as his somewhat eccentric nature, Charles Bronson is also well known for his multiple attempts to get parole over the years. At the time of writing, his case is being reviewed by parole board chiefs for the ninth time.
Is there truly a chance that Bronson will be able to walk free of the system that has held him for so long? Join us here at Crime+Investigation as we examine the possibility of Charles Bronson becoming a free man.
Who is Charles Bronson?
Charles Arthur Salvador was born Michael Gordon Peterson on 6th December 1952. He is mostly known by the professional name of Charles Bronson.
As well as his criminal life, Bronson is also known as an artist. He changed his surname to Salvador in 2014 as an homage to one of his favourite artists, Salvador Dali.
Some of the crimes committed by Bronson include taking hostages, armed robbery and violent attacks.
Charles Bronson’s prison stints
Bronson began engaging in criminal activity at age 13, but it was in 1974, when he was 22, that he received his first major sentence.
Bronson was given seven years in prison due to an armed robbery conviction. He was initially sent to Walton Gaol – now known as HM Prison Liverpool – but was transferred to HMP Hull in 1975.
Over the years, Bronson moved locations several times due to violent behaviour towards fellow inmates and prison officers as well as the destruction of prison property.
Here are some of the UK prisons and psychiatric hospitals that Bronson has found himself in over the years:
- Walton Gaol/HM Prison Liverpool
- HM Prison Hull
- Armley Gaol/HM Prison Leeds
- HM Prison Wakefield
- HM Prison Parkhurst
- HM Prison Wandsworth
- HM Prison Albany
- HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs
- HM Prison Winchester
- HM Prison Leicester
- HM Prison Brixton
- HM Prison Full Sutton
- HM Prison Briston
- HM Prison Birmingham
- HM Prison Woodhill
- HM Prison Belmarsh
- HM Prison Lincoln
- HM Prison Whitemoor
- HM Prison Woodhill
- Broadmoor Hospital
- Rampton Secure Hospital
- Ashworth Hospital
Charles Bronson’s parole attempts
Bronson has attempted to receive parole meetings several times throughout the years, beginning in the 2000s. His attempts were rejected each time due to his unpredictable nature and violent outbursts.
He was eventually granted the right to a public parole board meeting, which took place in March 2023. He was deemed unfit for release by the board, who argued that he would not be able to cope with release due to spending 23 hours a day in a cell.
An independent psychologist – who was hired by Bronson’s legal team – noted that he had signs of PTSD. The psychologist argued that this was partially caused by the brutal treatment he received while in prison.
Could Charles Bronson be released in the future?
As mentioned, Bronson is currently undergoing another review from the parole board. At 72 years old, this could be the last chance that Bronson has to be free from prison, but is there a chance it could be successful? There is no way to tell for sure whether Charles Bronson will ever be a free man, but it's safe to make some predictions based on past events.
Bronson has a reputation for continuing to offend when allowed freedom. He has been released various times since he was first convicted, but each time, he repeatedly offended, leading to more jail time. He has also exhibited highly violent behaviour against others over the years while in jail.
That being said, there have been reports of Bronson showing much-improved behaviour while in custody. If his behaviour has truly changed significantly, then future decisions by the parole board could be influenced by this.
Charles Bronson has amassed supporters during his time in prison, and many of them are advocates for his release. They are likely highly optimistic when it comes to the chance of Bronson being freed. However, this can only be the case if Bronson is no longer deemed a threat to society. Only time will tell if Bronson will become a free man in his twilight years.
Want to stay up to date with all the latest crime stories? Make sure to subscribe to the Crime+Investigation newsletter. By signing up, you will get early access to all new articles, clips, and full episodes of stories. You’ll also get exclusive content, so make sure to sign up for free today!
