The jails where they do things differently
The prison in Philadelphia that's adopted a Scandinavian model of custody and how a recycling project in a Panama jail is helping inmates once they're released.
In 2019 a group of prison officers from Philadelphia in the US spent three weeks working in jails across Scandinavia - in order to see whether their more humane approach to custody could work back at home.
Five years on we visit SCI Chester’s ‘Little Scandinavia' to see whether the ‘homely’ environment - where prisoners can order groceries, cook their own meals and socialise with officers – leads to better behaviour.
We’ll also head to Panama, where an innovative recycling project is cleaning up a prison and providing inmates with skills they can use once back in the outside world.
People Fixing The World from the 91Èȱ¬ is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Producer: Craig Langran
Reporters: Jane Chambers, Ben Wyatt
Editor: Jon Bithrey
(Image: Inmates playing chess at Chester jail, Pennsylvania, Getty Images)
On radio
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Yesterday 08:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service
- Yesterday 15:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Yesterday 18:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Yesterday 23:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Saturday 23:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sunday 10:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service
- Monday 03:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service
People fixing the world on YouTube
Watch stories of people changing their world on the World Service English YouTube channel