In this episode, we talk about daily life inside Singapore’s maximum-security prisons—strip searches, televised family visits, and the strict routine of a controlled economy where inmates are paid around five to six dollars every two weeks. We follow inmates dealing with grief, trauma, and the long-term fallout of crimes including drug trafficking and family violence. We hear how rehabilitation efforts like Family Violence Intervention classes, mindfulness sessions, and art therapy confront cycles of violence and generational trauma. The episode also covers sentencing realities, including one inmate who avoided the death penalty after trafficking over three thousand grams of pure diamorphine, and another navigating a possible divorce after years of incarceration. Emotional survival, not just physical confinement, becomes the centerpiece of prison life.
Join us on Apple Podcasts or Patreon to explore all topics covered by the National Media Archive: