We have one of the highest rates of imprisonment in the Western world. 20,000 of our kids have a parent behind bars. What's it like when they're on the inside and you're on the outside? Tonight ` Yeah, we broke into a few cars. Drinking, smoking a lot of pot, up to no good. A Marlborough family with all three boys on the inside. READS: 'Once again I am going up on a charge of assault with intent to injure.' What's he up to now?! You wouldn't dream in a million years that something like this would happen to you. And here we are. We've got three kids in prison. Captions by Hugo Snell. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2017 23-year-old Ryan and 18-year-old brother Wayne went to prison after breaking into cars to fund their cannabis habit. Youngest Wayne is just out, after serving two months on remand. He is released home to his mum and dad, Cheryl and Tim. Middle son Ryan is still behind bars, along with Paul, the oldest, who's been inside a lot longer. Wayne and Ryan's arrest happened two months ago. Cheryl and Tim were suddenly woken by the police. For Cheryl, who's hearing impaired, the early morning raid was all the more confusing. I looked up, and there was a policeman standing in my doorway. Cos I'm deaf, I thought 'Ohh, what the hell?' Out of bed, you two. So I said to him, 'Excuse me. Can I help you?' And he said` He looked at me, and he said, 'Yeah, this is a raid.' And I said, 'Raid. Oh, I see those on TV.' And he said, 'Yeah, like on TV. Get up and come into the lounge.' Outta bed, into the lounge. Four cops grabbed me out of bed. Put some pants on. They were also arresting my brother at the time, who had previous firearm charges. I thought, 'What the hell is going on here?' And next thing I wanted to see Wayne, but we were told that we'd see him later. A cop said to me that he was just going to take me to the car, ask me a few questions. When I got to the car, he said I was under arrest. I just felt sick and numb, of course. And embarrassed. I just felt ashamed of myself, you know. Mum and dad were pretty disappointed and upset and angry. You know, it was quite a shock, you know. And it was also like my first time in court, so to be sent to prison is pretty out there. When the paper come out, and they put it on the front page 'crime syndicate', I saw that at work, and the blimmin' paper came out, and I looked at it, and I said, 'Crime spree ` brothers in crime,' and I thought, 'Oh my God, it's the kids! And I just approached the manager and said, 'Look here, this is the way it is. If you think that I'm involved and you don't want me here, you just tell me and I'll go. And I was quite willing to just go. Because I just felt so upset. And she said, 'You didn't do those crimes. They did, and they can suffer the consequences.' Cheryl has never visited any of her boys in prison. I'd like to go down there. Yeah, sure. And see them, see how they are going. But it's not a main priority. And they put themselves there, so they can live with it. The family's readying to leave their home town of 20 years to move to Hanmer. They're hoping a fresh start will put their troubles behind them and keep youngest son Wayne out of trouble. And they'll also be close enough to visit Cheryl's two other boys in Christchurch Prison. Ryan, arrested with Wayne but sentenced for longer. And the oldest, Paul, already serving time for a number of offences, including disorderly behaviour and drug charges. If I were living in Hanmer, I would make an effort to go and see them. And hopefully the boys will settle down a bit after that. All that there. All that there apart from that stuff there. All that there. All that there apart from that stuff there. All that's gotta be picked up. Wayne and his mates are helping to ready the property for sale. Moving town soon, so yeah ` new experience. It should be good. Definitely a fresh start, you know. There's not going to be a lot of distractions. There's not going to be a lot of pot, marijuana around. Before they were caught, to fund their drug habit, teenage Wayne and older brother Ryan began selling stolen goods. We broke into a few cars, eh. Seeing what we could do to find ways to get pot. I was just doing what all kids my age group were doing. My group of friends were, you know, smoking a lot of pot and drinking, and just, yeah, up to no good. Getting into trouble was nothing new for older brother Ryan, but for Wayne, prison was a terrifying experience. I walked in there and some guy said he was going to rape me. It was the first night. And, um, I got stabbed in there, and a lot of other crazy things happened. You've always got to watch your back. I wouldn't want to go back there. I just keep my nose clean, you know. I don't want to do anything to get myself back into that place. You know, it was probably the lowest place you can go in life, really. Wayne is adjusting to life on the outside, but he still has community service to complete. Come here. Alfie! Now determined to move on with his life, 18-year-old Wayne wants to prove to his Mum and Dad he can stay out of prison and live a better life with them and the dogs, down south. When I got released from prison, it was just like a big of a weight off my shoulders. Yeah, to know that I could just, you know, have freedom. Even though when I got out, I was on some pretty heavy conditions ` curfew, and alcohol and drug counselling. Drug tests, and PD work and all that. I felt quite nervous when he first got out. I thought, 'Oh God, how do you react? What do you do?' You know. But he was quite clingy towards us. It was like he didn't want to leave us. If I wanted to go down to the shop, he would say, 'Can I come too?' And I'd think, 'Oh what?' Youngest son Wayne may be out, but Cheryl's two other sons, Paul and Ryan, are still inside. With the added expense of getting the house ready for market so they can move nearer to Christchurch and Cheryl finally visit them, money's getting tight. You get right confused, though ` one time 'I love you', the next it's '200 bucks'. Nurse-aid Cheryl's three sons have all been in prison. Youngest Wayne is just out, and Cheryl and husband Tim are moving south so they can be closer to Cheryl's two other boys, Paul and Ryan ` both in Christchurch Prison. They also hope the fresh start will keep Wayne out of trouble. And how much do you want in the bank? You don't need anything? Hmm, well you know I don't go out of my way. You know I love ya. It's pretty upsetting for me. I always get emotional over it. Cos they say they love you and you don't know whether to believe them half the time. If they just want money or they really do want a chance. To keep calling costs down, Cheryl, who is hearing impaired, and Tim have set up an 0800 number for Ryan and Paul to call from prison on. Ryan, arrested at the same time as Wayne two months ago, was sentenced for longer and still has over four months to serve behind bars. OK, I'm willing to give you a chance. They keep on saying, 'Oh, well, you know we'll be good' and all that. But, you know, you've always got the shadow of doubt, haven't ya? We had trouble before with both Ryan and Wayne. And with` you know, trouble with, what is it, bail or whatever. We couldn't have the two of them here. So Wayne's my natural son. It's hard on Cheryl and all that. But we have to have him here first. And he's the youngest one. You got to understand, Tim, that they're my pure-blooded kids. They come out of here. I can't choose from one to the other. It's just not, it's hard for me. Cos they're my kids. All of them are. The whole three of them. Sometimes wonder where you'd gone wrong. Ryan was a love child from not a marriage, and the man that I had him to said, 'Either you get rid of him or we'll split up.' Cheryl left, moved to Blenheim and met Tim who took on Ryan. But Cheryl and Tim struggled and found Ryan a difficult child. So they organised to put him into foster care. Ryan had 36 caregivers. Some of them were really, really nice people. And, for that, I often think well if 36 couples can't do anything with him, how the hell am I supposed to? One of his caregivers was a policeman. One was a guy from the Corrections Department. So he had some quite well-known people. Ryan had marijuana, but I didn't know the quantities or where he was getting it from or anything like that. Or where he was smoking it. But I didn't know anything about Wayne joining in the band wagon. When I heard that, I thought, 'Oh God.' Even though the boys are in prison, you still have to look your best for work. With less than three weeks before the move, nurse-aid Cheryl's days working at the local rest home are numbered. Sometimes I don't feel like going to work, but it takes my mind off things, believe me. You know they're in inside, they know they're inside, but the world doesn't wanna know. You know, the next lot are going to be going into prison today, and I know damn well how the parents are going to feel about it. They're going to feel like shit. It's real horrible, eh? The oldies don't wanna know that you've got a son in prison. All they want is their food on the table and changed and fed and happy. See ya! Gotta go to work. This is where I turn into nurse Cheryl. It always helps to think of other people than yourself all the time. It helps you to get by. And, you know, you don't judge people you know because they've been in prison. Some people come out of there with really better than they went in. I'm hoping to get Wayne away from all the trouble by taking him up to Hanmer with us and encouraging him to do better. If I've done my very best for those boys, there's nothing more you can do. Sometimes I blame myself. But then other times I think I didn't do all that what they've been doing. They say, 'Oh, you set bad examples and that,' but if you haven't been to prison, then how the hell could you set that example, eh? I've never been in trouble before in my life! Too cunning for that. This is Tim's last week at work before the family moves south. Supporting children in prison is costly, but Tim's bosses have been understanding. When I said I needed a few lieu days paid out, that was no problem, and a few days off to court and that sort of thing. Ryan would ring up, and Wayne and Cheryl would say, 'Don't send him any money. Don't spoil him!' And of course I'd put money in, then she'd see the bank report and say, 'Ooh, you've sent Ryan so much,' and that, you know, sometimes I'd felt sorry for him. While inmates are supplied the basics, family can send in approved extras. Of course we had to send him a TV, and then it had to get checked at the prison, which cost $25 or something. You wouldn't dream in a million years that something like this would happen to you. Three of them were in jail, and it's three TVs, three radios, dozen socks, dozen undies. This, that and the next thing. It's so expensive! And I mean, like Tim said, you feel guilty. You know they've done wrong and that. But everyone deserves to have clean clothes. You just miss out yourself and give it to them. The big move south is happening in under three weeks. For Cheryl, it's one step closer to her very first visit to her two sons in prison. I'm quite excited about visiting the kids. I've already put my application in, or I will today, and that will go off, and hopefully I'll hear from the prison before too long, and, yay, we can go see them. With the prospect of starting over in a new town, Wayne's even more determined to turn his life around and is even thinking about chasing a childhood dream. Blenheim couple Cheryl and Tim were suddenly woken in an early morning raid three months ago. The police arrested teenage son Wayne, and Cheryl's son Ryan. The two boys were sent to prison. Cheryl's three boys have all been in prison; youngest Wayne has just been released. Middle son Ryan has more time to serve, and there's oldest son Paul, who was in prison already. 26-year-old Paul, the oldest of Cheryl's boys has been in prison the longest. The product of a previous marriage, Cheryl sent Paul to live with his dad from an early age. Cheryl had limited contact with him growing up. Paul's been in and out of prison for many years. This time he's in on cannabis charges and disorderly behaviour. Cheryl's never visited him, though she reads his regular letters, and both Cheryl and Tim help out financially. READS: 'Mum I've missed you ` so many years of fun and good times with you. It makes me so bloody mad. 'I wish I could turn back the clock. 'Once again I am going up on a charge of assault with intent to injure 'and theft of a motor vehicle.' Oh God. What's he up to now?! 'When I get out of jail this time, Mum, I want to start spending time together. 'If it takes me moving back to Blenheim, then I'll do it. 'I truly hate to ask, but would it be possible if you could chuck me some money into my account.' Waiting for that to come out. 'Shit, I miss you and wish I could see you. But I don't think that that will be happening for quite a while. 'Not till next six months at least. Anyway, Mum, be good. Don't forget to tell Wayne to write. 'Love always, your lost son.' Hmm, money. Make you cry, wouldn't it, sometimes. You get right confused, though. One time, 'I love you' and the next it's '200 bucks'. Just makes you wonder, doesn't it? Tim's finished his last shifts at the bakery, but with the house going on the market in just two days, work's not over yet. We had an old veranda here, and Ryan and his friend pulled it down, took all the old Novalite. Unfortunately a bit of board came down and smashed one of the glass down there. Made it quite handy, cos the dogs can run out through the little holes. This is gonna go up in there. Ryan used to help with this sort of thing. Wayne's more of a computer man. That's gonna fall off. That's on now? That's gonna fall off. That's on now? Yep. With just two weeks till they move closer to Christchurch prison so they can visit Cheryl's boys for the first time, Tim and Cheryl are having drinks to farewell friends and to celebrate a job offer down south for Tim. Where I worked seven years ago, at the Hot Springs Hotel, I actually got that job back there. So it was really, really good, cos I've been there before and know the people. But will Wayne be able to stay out of trouble long enough to get his life back on track? A holiday in Hanmer! Permanent one. It's three months later. Cheryl and husband Tim have now sold their Marlborough home and moved closer to the prison. They're settled in Hanmer, where Tim's got work as a hotel chef, and now they're living a bit closer to the prison, Cheryl's thinking about finally visiting the boys. I've had some phone calls. My boys are excited about getting out, and when they do, I hope they damn well behave themselves then. Wayne's been doing extremely well. He must be the one that's really getting the benefit out of this, and that's why we did it. He's really quite behaving himself. In the meantime 18-year-old Wayne is still having to check in at probation. Oh, when I went to court, I got supervision, which means I got to report into probation once a month now. And just see how life's going, catch up on community work. The probation officer today will want to check Wayne is following the rules on the outside. Wayne's release conditions are strict. If he does not meet them, he could be sent back to prison. Yeah, it was all right. Starting to relax, give me a bit more freedom. It's less than two hours' drive from Cheryl's new home in Hanmer to Christchurch where her sons are in prison. I'm quite excited about visiting the kids. I've already put my application in, or I will today. And that'll go off, and hopefully I'll hear from the prison before too long, and, yay, we can go see them. So Cheryl won't be visiting today, but Wayne's out and about working on an ambitious plan for his future. Ever since he's been a little fella, his granddad was in amateur radio in search and rescue and that. He got on the radio with his granddad and talk to people, and they used to call him the junior operator. Now living closer to Christchurch, Wayne's long held dream for a career in radio could be possible. Today, Wayne's visiting radio school for a tour around the building. Through here is the main operational area for Jacked FM, which is our radio station. On the right, this is where the students write commercials, and then over here we'll head into the main studio. Right, come on in, chuck those on. So just make sure you're about that far away from the mic so we'll get your voice nice and crisp. So just make sure you're about that Awesome. your voice nice and crisp. So just make sure you're about that Awesome. Just smile. It's radio. Do I have to smile? Awesome. Just smile. It's radio. Do I have to smile? Yeah, of course! Everyone can hear the smile through the mic. Just go when you're ready. Meet Gordon. Gordon isn't so proud that the prices of petrol have gone up. He also isn't proud that the prices of groceries have gone up. Do you wanna hear it with music? prices of groceries have gone up. Do you wanna hear it with music? Yeah sure. He's also proud of the fact that Open Ferry have local bands, pool tables and gaming machines. Awesome. It's good. I'll chuck it on a CD for you, and you can put it in your showreel. Cheers, Wayne. Thank you! Wayne's now planning to apply for the radio course when enrolments open. It's given me a lot of things to focus on, and work towards. Yeah, we wanted him to go back to school and study, so it's really given him a boost. He was so excited about it. Now that I've moved, it's really good. I haven't been in trouble at all. It's been really good to get away from all the temptations up at home. And I feel like he's more helpful to me. In Blenheim, he didn't want to know me, he was out with his mates and everything. But now he's really come into my heart, more talking to me, and communicating with me, laughing with me, joking with me, and even crying with me sometimes. So that really means a lot to me. It's like welcome back the old Wayne. Wayne may be keeping out of trouble, but for Cheryl, there's still the other boys to worry about. What do you think Ryan'll be having for lunch? Oh, they always have sandwiches for lunch in there. They get good main meals. So you're not going to eat your chips, then Timothy? Cheryl still hasn't visited Ryan or Paul. But youngest Wayne is feeling optimistic about life after prison. The future for me seems pretty bright, you know, fresh start. Keeping clean and just move on with my life, and make it better. Captions by Hugo Snell. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2017