Raphael Rowe, an investigative journalist, spent several days immersed in the brutal reality of Porto Velho Penitentiary, Brazil’s notorious prison, experiencing its confines from both the perspective of a guard and that of an inmate.

At the Zhytomyr prison in Ukraine, staffing levels are so low that inmates possess a remarkable degree of freedom, able to move about the grounds with ease. Disturbingly, some carry weapons that pose a significant risk.

Raphael Rowe journeyed to Bomana Prison in Papua New Guinea, a facility struggling with chronic understaffing and perpetually precarious conditions. There, persistent food shortages threatened to unravel order at any moment.

Within the confines of Belize Central Prison, the incarcerated are assured that redemption lies solely in faith. Raphael Rowe explores the efficacy of this deeply religious philosophy.