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[Raphael Rowe] Nicosia Central Prison
in the Republic of Cyprus.
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[barks]
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It once had a fearsome reputation…
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[instructor] Let's go, guys.
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[Rowe] …for guard brutality.
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[shouts] Yes.
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They just wanted to break you.
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[prisoner in Greek]
They beat you or put you in solitary.
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[in English] I think I'll die
these two weeks.
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Were prisoners physically beaten?
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Every day.
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[Rowe in English] But now a charismatic
new director has taken over…
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[chanting] We love you, Anna!
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[Rowe] …and she claims to have
transformed this controversial prison.
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You make me a better person.
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[cheering]
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What's going on here?
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I'm about to spend a week
locked up in a prison
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unlike any I have been to before…
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-What are they singing?
-[singing]
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They're saying "Anna, Queen of Prisons"
in here. That's what they're saying.
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[Rowe] …to find out
if this radical new approach
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to rehabilitation really works.
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You're brainwashed.
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I feel, yeah, I am a family member.
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[Rowe] But it's not
my first time behind bars.
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My name is Raphael Rowe.
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I was convicted in the UK
of a murder I didn't commit
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and sentenced to life with no parole.
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It took me 12 long years to clear my name.
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Now I'm traveling the globe
to discover what life is like
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inside the world's toughest prisons.
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[lock clicks]
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Nicosia, the capital
of the Republic of Cyprus.
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This Mediterranean island lies close
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to North Africa and the Middle East.
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I'm cuffed,
and I'm in the back of a prison van
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on my way to Cyprus' Central Prison,
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a prison that had a reputation
of being one of the most brutal in Europe.
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A place where they refused
to allow inspectors to go into the prison
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because of what used to take place there.
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In the years
before the new leadership took over,
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there were numerous reports
of serious beatings of prisoners by guards
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and allegations
that guards allowed younger inmates
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to be raped by older inmates.
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In one tragic period,
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six prisoners
committed suicide in less than a year.
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I've heard the director has come in
and reformed the place.
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Prisoners are no longer
being brutally beaten.
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I'm gonna find out how true that is.
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The new director's
been in charge since late 2014,
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but many of the 350 guards
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were working here
under the previous leadership.
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[barking]
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-What is your name?
-[Rowe] Raphael.
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[officer] We have to check
with the dog. Okay?
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Please follow me.
Pass from the arch. Come here.
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Follow me for the search.
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Open your mouth.
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[Rowe] How long have you
been prison guards in this prison?
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[officer] Me, I work here
the last 17 years, and…
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-[officer 2] Me, the past 28.
-Twenty-eight.
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It used to have a brutal regime
that prisoners were often beaten.
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You were here
when that reputation existed.
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Before, we didn't respect people.
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And the violence existed in the prison.
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[Rowe] And why was it like that before?
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I think, sir, it's-- it's not,
uh, the time to explain this to you.
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You will see for yourself.
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Okay, let's go.
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[Rowe] Before new inmates are taken
to their cell,
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they all go through an in-depth interview.
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Have a seat, please.
So, hello, my name is Nikki.
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I want to welcome you here.
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Um, I will be carrying out an interview.
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Do you have any professional skills?
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I'm a journalist.
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[Nikki] Do you use any drugs
or any other substances?
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[Rowe] No.
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-[Nikki] Do you have any talents? Hobbies?
-Sport.
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We have a lot of sports activities.
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[Rowe] Do you go through this process
with every prisoner?
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With everyone, yes.
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[Rowe] And what are you hoping
to find out about the prisoner?
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Anything that may assist us
or guide us as to your needs.
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The skills are going to be processed,
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so you will be assigned a job later on.
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And are you a regular guard,
a psychologist, a social worker?
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00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,840
I'm just a prison officer,
but I've been trained to do this,
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and I also have a degree
in law and criminology.
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Come with me.
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[camera shutter clicks]
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[Rowe] I'm given a hefty supply
of brand-name toiletries.
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Shampoo, conditioner,
toothpaste, toothbrush, razors.
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Okay. Everything you may need.
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-Do all the prisoners get these?
-[Nikki] Yes, of course.
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[Rowe] And crisp new bedsheets.
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This whole process
has caught me slightly off guard.
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The telephone booths are open
from eight o'clock in the morning
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to 8:30 in the evening, okay?
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I can make a call anytime
during that time?
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Yes, any time,
as many calls as you want, okay?
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At my expense or the prison's expense?
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I can give you a Telecard if you want to.
Okay, I'm just gonna give you one now.
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[whispers] It's crazy.
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Anything you want to ask me?
Anything you want to discuss?
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No, thank you very much.
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It sounds like, um,
this place is very different
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to-- to what I expected
when I came through the gate.
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If I ignore the 20-foot concrete walls
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and miles of razor wire,
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I'm almost starting to feel welcome here.
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[music playing]
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I then encounter something
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I'd normally expect
to find in a hotel lobby.
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There's a music-playing
water fountain piano.
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I mean, what's the purpose of that
inside a maximum security prison?
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To make the people here
to feel, uh, better.
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This is played all day?
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-[officer] Yes.
-[officer 2] It was an idea of an inmate.
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[music playing]
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I've been processed in a very humane way.
I've been talked to in a very humane way.
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I've been given goodies to go to my cell.
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I'm listening
to a water fountain music player.
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As prisons go,
this is gonna be interesting.
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[music playing]
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[chattering]
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[Rowe] This prison holds
a total of 800 inmates across 17 wings.
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I'm being taken
to meet my new cellmate on Wing 2A,
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which holds around a hundred prisoners.
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-[officer 2] Hello, Phaethon.
-Hello.
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-[Rowe] Hello.
-[officer 2] This is Raph.
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-This is Phaethon. He's your roommate.
-Raph, nice to meet you. Phaethon.
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[officer] This will be your cell.
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[Rowe] Okay.
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This is Phaethon.
He's done two stints in this prison.
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The first was for armed robbery,
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and he's currently serving
eight years for fraud.
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Okay, so I'm inside the cell now.
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-[Phaethon] Yeah.
-This is our cell.
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-Yeah.
-[Phaethon] You are not in a Hilton.
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You are in prison.
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But you are in a place
where your prospects in life count.
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I'm slightly disorientated
by the whole processing.
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The way the guards welcomed me
kind of disarmed me.
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You know, you're coming into prison,
you think, "Right." [huffs]
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And then I see the--
the music-playing fountain and stuff.
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It's-- it's kind of made me
scratch my head and think,
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"What's going on here?"
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This is how it works here.
The director's philosophy,
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the-- the culture and the changes
she passed for the last years,
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because I've been here-- My second time
in prison, to be honest with you.
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So what was your first prison sentence?
What year was that?
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2008, April, to the end of the year 2011.
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They said in that period
that lots of prisoners
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were beaten by the prison officers.
Is that true?
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It is true. It is true.
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And, uh, I'm not happy to say that,
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because more or less,
the staff was the same.
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Less water, less food, more punishment.
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They just wanted to break you.
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I saw a person in my room hang.
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-[Rowe] You saw someone hang?
-I saw him hang. He was a Persian guy.
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He served five and a half years.
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He lost his mind,
and we find him in the morning like this.
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-Hanging.
-Hanging.
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-[Rowe] Killed himself.
-Just like two rooms just next to me.
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[Rowe] So he was one
of the six who committed suicide.
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One of the six, yes. Terrible.
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[Rowe] It's been so interesting
meeting my cellmate.
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Seems like a really nice guy,
and he's made me feel very welcome.
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You know, he's a guy who was here
when this place was brutal.
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But what's so interesting
is that the prison guards
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that used to beat prisoners
are still here,
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and he will be looking
in the eyes of those guards
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that used to beat up either him
or treat him like shit.
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How he gets on with them now
is gonna be really interesting,
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because I could
never forgive a prison officer
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who beat the fuck out of me
just because he could,
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just because I was vulnerable.
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And that happened
to me many times in prison.
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But you don't forget,
because those kinds of things,
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they leave physical, mental scars.
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[doors clanking]
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Inmates here are released
from their cells at 6:00 a.m.
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and are allowed
outside their blocks at seven.
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They can roam the grounds freely
until five in the afternoon.
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I'm just trying to get my head around
what this place is really like.
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None of the prisoners here
are wearing uniform.
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00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,120
When you're processed,
you're often given a uniform.
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00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,840
Your identity would be left at the gate.
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But here, the prisoners have
their own clothes, so they can,
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to some extent, keep their own identity.
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And that's a deliberate design
to humanize.
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That's not me underestimating
that there are very dangerous men in here,
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as well as petty thieves, drug addicts.
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You know, the place
is full of all types of criminals,
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and it still remains
a maximum security prison.
199
00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,760
As the inmates
are permitted a lot of time outdoors,
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I was expecting to see more people about,
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but I'm told it's a special afternoon.
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Now, what--
what is going on in here today?
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[Phaethon] What is going on here today?
Today we have bingo.
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00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,200
This is the fifth time it's taken place.
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00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,040
-Usually, we--
-[Rowe] Bingo?
206
00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:05,960
[Phaethon] Bingo.
207
00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,840
There is bingo, believe it or not.
208
00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,880
It is for us and also the ladies
that are in prison as well.
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00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:13,960
I can follow. Please enter.
210
00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,480
[caller speaking Greek]
211
00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:18,600
[caller in English] Seventy-three.
212
00:11:18,680 --> 00:11:19,920
[caller speaking Greek]
213
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:21,680
[caller in English] Seventy-three.
214
00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,520
Seventy-five. We have a winner.
215
00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,600
[cheering]
216
00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,200
[Rowe] So all these
are all female prisoners?
217
00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,040
-[Phaethon] Yes.
-[Rowe] Where do they stay?
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00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,960
There is a different block,
called Block 3,
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and the ladies are in there.
220
00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:40,600
And do they keep the women separate
from the guys?
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00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:41,680
Hundred percent.
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00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,960
[Rowe] So this is quite a privileged
day today. You get to see the women.
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Believe me, sometimes for them more.
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-[laughing]
-I believe.
225
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,640
[caller speaking Greek]
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00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,320
[in English] Twenty-three.
227
00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,200
I didn't expect to see women
inside this hall when I came in.
228
00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,520
Let me just check my number,
just in case I'm on to a winner.
229
00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,120
I'm playing bingo inside the prison.
230
00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,320
They can win prizes, mattresses,
bed covers, sweets and other gifts,
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00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,120
including a flat TV.
232
00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,280
But, um, I've never seen
anything like this before.
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00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,000
[cheering]
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00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,440
[Rowe] I'm told the new arrival
is the prison director,
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00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,000
Anna Aristotelous.
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00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,960
It's the first time I've seen her.
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00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:25,560
[prisoners chanting]
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00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,320
[Rowe] She's been in charge
for the last eight years,
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00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,240
and she's clearly made
a big impression on the inmates.
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00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,960
[chanting]
241
00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,600
-[cheering]
-We love you, Anna!
242
00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,920
Quite a strange reception, man.
Why they love her so much?
243
00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,080
-[prisoner] Because they--
-[chattering]
244
00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,040
She helps them so much.
245
00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,160
They come here from the Congo.
246
00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,080
They don't have outside to eat.
247
00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,960
They come here.
They find food, breakfast, dinner,
248
00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,440
everything, gym, clothes, shoes.
249
00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,880
[Rowe] The chanting
is mostly coming from illegal migrants
250
00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,240
locked up
for entering Cyprus without papers.
251
00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,240
I've just never seen anyone
show appreciation to a governor
252
00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,040
or a director of a prison before.
253
00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,080
[chanting] We love you, Anna!
We love you, Anna!
254
00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,000
We love you, Anna! We love you, Anna!
255
00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,080
[chanting continues]
256
00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:21,840
You are all in my heart.
257
00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,160
I would like
to welcome you in today's event.
258
00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:31,080
Uh, and first, above all,
I want to thank you for your ethos,
259
00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:32,800
for your character,
260
00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:37,080
and every-- every moment,
uh, you move me by your actions.
261
00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:38,600
[prisoners applauding]
262
00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:41,400
-[cheering]
-[whistling]
263
00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,520
Do you think it's all real?
These guys are reacting because they--
264
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,640
[Phaethon] Hundred percent it's for real.
265
00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:47,600
Hundred percent.
266
00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:51,120
It's the-- it's the hundredth time
I saw them acting like that.
267
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,880
[Rowe] And what about the Cypriots?
Are they reacting the same way?
268
00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,760
We will say hi.
We will stand up. We will shake hands.
269
00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,840
Because they know how she is,
she is very open.
270
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,600
You make me a better person.
271
00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,600
[prisoners cheering]
272
00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,480
[Rowe] At first,
I thought when she came in
273
00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:10,960
and there was this huge cheer
from everyone
274
00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,480
and then this breakout celebration,
that it was a bit of a setup.
275
00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:16,760
You know, is this something for show?
276
00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,600
[chanting]
277
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,360
[Rowe] It's so surreal. It's bizarre.
278
00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:26,120
I'm looking forward
to meeting her at some point.
279
00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,760
-[chanting]
-[shouting]
280
00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:32,640
[Rowe] The director appears
to run a very informal regime here,
281
00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,400
but I haven't yet seen
if this relaxed approach
282
00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,320
will work with the most serious offenders.
283
00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,520
[prisoners chattering]
284
00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:42,600
-Thank you.
-[man speaks Greek]
285
00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:47,240
The food is good here, right?
I mean, this is--
286
00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,920
[Phaethon] When the food
was not okay or not enough,
287
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,040
90% of the fighting was about food.
288
00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,200
And they say a hungry man is an angry man.
289
00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,720
-It's true.
-[Rowe] It's true, right?
290
00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,920
-What do you think about the food?
-It's good.
291
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:00,840
It's good?
292
00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,240
The guy sat next to me is Lovepreet,
from India.
293
00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,760
He came to Cyprus to work on a farm,
294
00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,040
but he got into a street fight
which ended in death.
295
00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,280
I turned my face
because they were attacking me.
296
00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:13,840
I turned my face, and I attacked!
297
00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,560
And what did you have in your hand?
298
00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:16,800
This guy's blade.
299
00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:19,160
The knife. Did the man die?
300
00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:20,080
Yes.
301
00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:21,440
-He died.
-He died.
302
00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,240
So, was you tried
for manslaughter or murder?
303
00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:26,920
No, it's the-- the murder.
304
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,320
And what prison sentence
did they give you?
305
00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:30,920
It's a life sentence.
306
00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,720
-Life sentence?
-Yeah.
307
00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:34,760
How do you feel?
308
00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,160
Before, I think my life finished,
life finished.
309
00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:38,760
Now I feel good.
310
00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,080
Because there are a lot
of opportunities inside.
311
00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,120
There's not many people I meet who say,
"Prison is good."
312
00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,200
You know? I mean,
you don't want to be here, but--
313
00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:49,320
It's not prison.
314
00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:51,840
It's not prison.
It's a rehabilitation center.
315
00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,960
Because they are too much changing me.
316
00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,160
What about the, um, the relationship
317
00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,640
between the prisoners
and the prison staff?
318
00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:03,120
Now I feel, okay, I am family member.
The prison.
319
00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,400
[Rowe] Lovepreet, a convicted murderer,
320
00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:12,520
lives in the same relaxed regime
as the general population.
321
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,840
And at times during my short stay here,
322
00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,840
it's been easy to forget
I'm in a max security prison at all.
323
00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,640
When I was sat in the bingo hall,
324
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,600
listening to the guys
and the girls cheering,
325
00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:32,840
participating in the game of bingo,
326
00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,720
I kept looking
at some of the faces and thinking,
327
00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,480
"You're gonna leave here.
You're not gonna go home to your family."
328
00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,840
"You're not gonna go for a beer.
You're gonna go to a cell."
329
00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:46,160
No matter how-- how decent everything is,
you are still in prison.
330
00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:47,720
This is the hard time.
331
00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,400
[prisoners chattering]
332
00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,040
-How are you doing? You all right?
-[prisoner] Yeah.
333
00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,400
-Konstantinos. Raphael.
-Yeah.
334
00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,280
Yeah. And it's Konstantinos.
335
00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:12,640
-Yeah.
-You're the chef, right?
336
00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:13,600
Yeah. [chuckles]
337
00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,600
[Rowe] Konstantinos lives on my block.
338
00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,320
He's serving 12 years,
339
00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,800
and he soon starts singing the praises
of the prison director.
340
00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:24,680
We are blessed we have this woman.
341
00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,040
-Otherwise, here we'd be, I don't know.
-[chuckles]
342
00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:31,520
[Rowe] Does she come out here often
to meet prisoners? All the time?
343
00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:32,880
[Konstantinos] All the time.
344
00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,920
[Rowe] I did 12 years
in some pretty tough prisons in the UK,
345
00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,240
where the director was authoritarian
and hated by the inmates.
346
00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,200
[Konstantinos] In the United Kingdom,
can you ever see the director?
347
00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,760
[scoffs] Only when
I was up for punishment.
348
00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:49,040
[Konstantinos] We can say anything
to her, you know?
349
00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:51,280
-You can talk to her anytime?
-[Konstantinos] Yeah.
350
00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:52,200
[Rowe] Right.
351
00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,960
-[Konstantinos in Greek] Good morning.
-Good morning.
352
00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,240
[in English] Hi, Raphael.
How are you doing? Good day.
353
00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,720
I'm Anna, the director of prisons.
354
00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,640
[Rowe] Yeah, I've heard a lot about Anna.
355
00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,840
[Anna Aristotelous] You settled okay?
Everything's okay?
356
00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,040
[Rowe] Is that possible,
to settle in a prison?
357
00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:07,120
[Aristotelous] I want you
to be comfortable.
358
00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,520
I read your, uh, your interview.
359
00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:10,720
-[Rowe] Okay.
-Yeah.
360
00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,880
I know that you are interested in sports.
361
00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,480
-Okay. Do you do that for all prisoners?
-[Aristotelous] Of course, yes.
362
00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,240
We want them to feel, uh, happy.
363
00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,360
-Is that possible in prison?
-[Aristotelous] It's very difficult.
364
00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,640
But at least we create conditions
365
00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:26,920
similar to the conditions
in the outside world.
366
00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:27,840
[Rowe] Mm-hmm.
367
00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,040
We have the same educational system
as the free society.
368
00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:33,880
-What language do you speak?
-English, just about.
369
00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:39,200
You can, uh,
attend lessons in, uh, Greek or Russian.
370
00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,400
[Rowe] And what do you expect in return?
371
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,680
What we expect in return.
This is very good question.
372
00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,200
Uh, we-- uh, we help people to develop,
373
00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:50,920
to change, to reform
374
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,920
and to successfully reintegrate
into society.
375
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,040
Is it mandatory
that I attend a workshop or find a job?
376
00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:00,120
What happens if I don't conform?
377
00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:04,160
We will have, uh, sessions
with you to see what is the problem.
378
00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,040
At the end, believe me,
that, uh, you'll participate in sports.
379
00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:09,720
You'll participate at schools.
380
00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,800
You are a bit skeptical.
381
00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,160
It's, uh, usual, you know?
382
00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,200
But the thing is, is that
I'm not used to this kind of environment.
383
00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,560
My experience of prison is confrontation.
384
00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,840
My experience of prison
is that the director,
385
00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:24,800
the guards are dishonest.
They're deceitful.
386
00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,520
They're manipulative. They're brutal.
387
00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:30,640
Yesterday, when I was privileged
to go to bingo,
388
00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:34,680
you spoke very passionately to the guys
and the girls that were in there
389
00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:36,640
about them believing in themself.
390
00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:38,600
It felt a little bit politics.
391
00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:43,080
You could have been on a stage
talking to-- to people outside.
392
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,480
-[Aristotelous] I'm not a politician.
-You are a politician.
393
00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:46,960
This is what I feel.
394
00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,920
-[Rowe] Ah!
-I like what I'm doing. I'm doing it.
395
00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,160
And if you like what you are doing,
you're doing it with passion.
396
00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,000
-This is the reality of our prison.
-[Rowe] Hmm.
397
00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,720
And you believe it.
I tell you, this is extremely.
398
00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,240
I-- believe me, I-- I was surprised.
399
00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:04,360
You're brainwashed.
You're-- you're really brainwashed.
400
00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,120
Believe me. You know, how I am…
401
00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,000
I live in the same conditions you live.
402
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,240
Well, I do appreciate you coming
and spending your time
403
00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:15,840
telling me what-- what happens here.
404
00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,040
Nice to meet you too.
405
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:19,560
-Thank you. Bye-bye.
-Bye-bye.
406
00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:20,800
[Konstantinos] Bye-bye.
407
00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:25,600
[Rowe] Before she took over the prison,
the director was a lawyer
408
00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,960
specializing in criminal
and human rights law.
409
00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,640
She then worked
for the Ministry of Justice,
410
00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:35,160
drafting prison reforms,
before she got the chance
411
00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,600
to put her theories into practice.
412
00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:41,760
I'm still trying
to discover what this place is about.
413
00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,920
The way the prisoners are
constantly championing the director.
414
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,760
They burst
into celebration when they see her.
415
00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,320
They shake her hand, you know,
like she is some godly figure.
416
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,280
I'm not sure whether it's genuine
417
00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:56,560
or whether it's just because
they want something.
418
00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,600
You know,
be on the good side of the director
419
00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,320
and you get more than somebody else.
420
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,040
There's still a lot to discover.
421
00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,400
There seems to be a big push
to get inmates into education here,
422
00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,920
so I want to see
if they're actually turning up
423
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,760
and embracing the chance to learn.
424
00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,280
Lessons range
from basic literacy to university degrees.
425
00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:20,280
[instructor in Russian] Hello.
426
00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:22,960
[Rowe in English]
I'm trying beginners Russian.
427
00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,400
[in Russian] Hello. Hello.
428
00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:26,720
Hello.
429
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,200
Hello.
430
00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:29,720
[Rowe in English] What does that say?
431
00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,840
Zdravstvuyte, it's "hello."
432
00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:33,440
[in Russian] How are you?
433
00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:35,040
[whispers]
434
00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:37,080
I am okay, thanks.
435
00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,600
[instructor laughs]
436
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:42,360
[Rowe in English] The guy helping me out
is 27-year-old Antonio.
437
00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,440
Why are you learning Russian?
Do you have family who are Russian?
438
00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:46,360
My mother.
439
00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:47,680
Your mother is Russian.
440
00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,560
[instructor in Russian]
Antonio, how do you say this?
441
00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,520
-My grandmother is retired.
-[instructor] Yes.
442
00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,200
[Rowe in English]
Participation in these sorts of classes
443
00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:00,760
are often seen as an excuse for prisoners
444
00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,600
to get out of their cell
just for a few hours,
445
00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,240
so they come and waste time here.
446
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,480
They don't need to get out of their cells
'cause they're allowed out,
447
00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:10,520
so they make a conscious decision to come.
448
00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,000
A cynic might say,
449
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,360
"They're just doing it
because it gives them brownie points."
450
00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:16,760
You only have to look around.
451
00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,320
You can see
how engaged they are with the class.
452
00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,600
Why is it…
453
00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:23,360
-[in Russian] Why.
-[Rowe repeats]
454
00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:24,800
[in English] …is it important…
455
00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:26,120
[in Russian] …is it important…
456
00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:29,040
[in English] …to learn Russian
in a Cypriot prison?
457
00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:31,400
They start to come,
Russian people, here in Cyprus,
458
00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,560
to start to open job here.
459
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:37,200
So, uh,
for us is very good to learn, uh, Russian.
460
00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:38,120
[Rowe] Hmm.
461
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,080
A lot of beautiful women are Russian.
462
00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:41,080
[laughing]
463
00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,320
Now I know, right? Now, yes, now I know.
464
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:45,400
Now we see.
465
00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,320
[Rowe] The drive
to get inmates into school is working.
466
00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,920
Seventy-five percent attend lessons.
467
00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,520
I find out my classmate Antonio
is on the same wing as me,
468
00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:02,720
and he knows this prison very well.
469
00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:04,720
[in Greek] I grew up in prison.
470
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,400
In prison, in drugs, in institutions.
471
00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:13,760
[in English] I have been in this prison
from 2011 until now.
472
00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:16,480
Only 2017, I don't come.
473
00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:18,320
-[Rowe] All right.
-It's my lucky year.
474
00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,200
-That's your lucky year.
-[Antonio] Lucky year.
475
00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:25,720
Why are you always in and out?
What-- what drives your criminality?
476
00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:30,680
I take drugs from 15 years old.
477
00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,880
I take heroin.
I take cocaine. I take it all before.
478
00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,600
[in Greek] I have been convicted
for burglaries,
479
00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,120
for armed robberies,
for forgeries, and for…
480
00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:42,600
theft.
481
00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,040
[in English] You commit crime
to support your heroin habit?
482
00:23:45,120 --> 00:23:45,960
[Antonio] Yes.
483
00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:48,200
[Rowe] The sentence
that you're in prison for now,
484
00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:49,800
is that for robbery as well?
485
00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:51,360
-Now? Yes.
-[Rowe] Yes.
486
00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:53,080
What kind of robbery? Bank? Street?
487
00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:54,000
[Antonio] Jewelry.
488
00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,680
With a gun,
we take what we take, and we go.
489
00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,280
You was here in 2011
when it was a completely different place.
490
00:24:01,360 --> 00:24:03,160
When I come, I was 16 years old.
491
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,640
They put me in 2B.
2B is a block for men, big men.
492
00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,720
[in Greek] A 16-year-old child,
with heroin withdrawal symptoms.
493
00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:12,360
I was shaking!
494
00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:15,000
[in English] I thought
I would die these two weeks.
495
00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:20,320
You served time here when the guards
used to treat prisoners really badly.
496
00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:21,880
[in Greek] For the smallest thing,
497
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,280
they would beat you
or put you in solitary. "Lock him away."
498
00:24:24,360 --> 00:24:28,000
[in English] In my life,
I broke two times, uh, this.
499
00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:29,000
[Rowe] Your ribs.
500
00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:30,240
Yes. Two times.
501
00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,080
And two times,
in the prison, not from prisoners.
502
00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:36,440
From officers.
503
00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,280
[Rowe] Antonio tells me
he's been off drugs
504
00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:42,400
inside prison for the last two years,
505
00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,920
and he's getting out
in less than three months.
506
00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,800
And what do you think will happen
this time when you get out?
507
00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:53,400
I don't think nothing for out.
508
00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:57,280
And when it comes time to get out,
I start to think.
509
00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,680
I start to think, and I…
510
00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:02,760
[in Greek] …get stressed.
511
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,480
[in English] Because I don't know
what I will find outside.
512
00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,120
[Rowe] Antonio, he's a career criminal.
513
00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:15,240
He's been at it
since he was 15, 16 years old.
514
00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:18,520
He's a guy who goes out there
and causes mayhem
515
00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,040
using weapons to commit robberies.
516
00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:22,760
He comes to prison.
517
00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,440
He's given a therapy
to kick his drug habit,
518
00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,280
but the moment he walks out that gate,
519
00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:29,720
whatever support
has been given to him here,
520
00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:35,080
he's been incapable of breaking that cycle
of crime and addiction.
521
00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:36,800
And it's a big challenge for men like him,
522
00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,000
and it's an even a bigger challenge
for the prison,
523
00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,440
because they do what they do,
they send him out,
524
00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:44,360
and he ends up going straight back.
525
00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:01,320
[prisoners singing]
526
00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:07,360
[singing]
527
00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,600
[Rowe] I've spent enough time
in this prison
528
00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,880
to know what this sound means.
529
00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:13,960
[singing continues]
530
00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:17,440
[Rowe] The director is on the wing,
531
00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:21,560
and I'm still trying to work out
if these displays are for real.
532
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,440
[singing]
533
00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,040
Most of the guys you are seeing here
are asylum seekers.
534
00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:29,600
-Oh, they're asylum seekers?
-They are asylum seekers here.
535
00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,520
[Rowe] Any person arriving
illegally in Cyprus
536
00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,720
can be locked up for up to a year.
537
00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:40,480
There's around 300 illegal migrants
and asylum seekers in this prison.
538
00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,560
Why are they so excited
about seeing the director?
539
00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,360
It's, uh… I believe it's because
of the treatment she's giving us.
540
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,560
I, as a person, I call it VIP treatment,
you know. [laughs]
541
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:55,320
Yeah, we are in a prison,
but, uh, she don't treat us as prisoners.
542
00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,160
[Rowe] Are you an asylum seeker as well?
543
00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,640
I'm an asylum seeker. I'm from Cameroon.
544
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:02,240
What are they singing?
What are they saying in the song?
545
00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,160
They're saying, "Anna, Queen of Prison."
546
00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,160
-[Rowe] Anna, Queen of Prison.
-Yeah, that's what they are saying.
547
00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:09,880
[Rowe] Do you think
she does it because she cares
548
00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:11,480
or it's a way of controlling you?
549
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,040
Because if you know
she's being good to you,
550
00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:17,120
you're not gonna give her a problem
or make problems in the prison.
551
00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,720
No, she's not doing that
in a way of controlling us.
552
00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,200
Someone that is going to look
for a better life is not a criminal.
553
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,280
[singing]
554
00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,880
[Rowe] This is pretty incredible, Anna.
Isn't it?
555
00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,000
It's, uh, an incredible feeling.
556
00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:38,720
I'm very, uh, moved.
557
00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:40,640
Why? Why do they do this?
558
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:45,080
These people should not be in prison,
uh, for illegal migration.
559
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:49,160
I think that they should be treated
as an administrative measure,
560
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:53,520
and not as an offense, uh,
and punishment by imprisonment.
561
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,080
But you believe that,
that the law should change?
562
00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:57,920
Yes, uh, I strongly believe that.
563
00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,760
My, uh, duty
as-- as a human being is to help them.
564
00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:04,520
[singing]
565
00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,840
[Rowe] The director isn't just working
for these inmates inside prison.
566
00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,160
She's also challenging the government
to change the law
567
00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,680
that criminalizes migrants and refugees.
568
00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:23,720
But I want to see what the director
is doing to actually reform inmates.
569
00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:28,640
Paid employment is key
to the approach to rehabilitation here.
570
00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:32,800
Prisoners work
as cleaners, chefs and groundsmen,
571
00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,200
as well as more skilled trades.
572
00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,080
They have lots of different workshops
in this prison, I'm told,
573
00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:42,040
and I'm gonna meet a guy
in one of the workshops
574
00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:44,360
to find out what he does here.
575
00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,080
Mario, how are you doing? I'm Raphael.
576
00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,160
-[Mario] Hello. Nice too meet you.
-What do you?
577
00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:53,280
Here we do, uh, bookbinding.
578
00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,720
We do 95% of the governmental bookbinding.
579
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,240
Oh, you bind these books for parliament?
580
00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,600
[Mario] Yes, for parliament, for police.
581
00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,560
-Would you like to see some?
-Yeah, come on then.
582
00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:06,760
Mario's originally from Lebanon.
583
00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:10,680
He's nine months into a 25-month sentence.
584
00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,960
-So you've not been to prison before?
-No, it's my first time.
585
00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:15,520
How are you coping?
586
00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,440
I was really nervous
before I came here, to be honest.
587
00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:19,680
[Rowe] What was you expecting?
588
00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:21,440
To come
and get the shit beaten out of you?
589
00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:25,360
Exactly. And it's gonna be--
Yeah, like, you know, somebody in control.
590
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,800
-And you're gonna be the little one.
-Yeah.
591
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,400
What-- what did you get 25 months for?
592
00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:35,080
Well, I'd been caught with a pistol,
some ammunition and, uh, some narcotics.
593
00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,680
-Narcotics to sell or personal use?
-No, personal use.
594
00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,400
It's quite a serious offense for
the first time, isn't it, carrying a gun?
595
00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,440
Narcotics, little bit of personal.
Well, people can suffer that.
596
00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:46,720
Having a firearm,
that is a killing weapon,
597
00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,280
so that is serious.
598
00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:50,280
-Isn't it?
-Yeah, it is.
599
00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:53,480
[Rowe] So, how does this help you?
600
00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:56,880
This is taking all my energy,
because I wake up in the morning,
601
00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,520
I know I have to come here,
learn something new.
602
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,720
It-- it really helps. It's-- You feel--
603
00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:03,960
You don't really feel
you're locked in, in prison.
604
00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,560
I-- I used to use, um, drugs.
605
00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:10,800
-Oh, right. Okay.
-This environment really, really helps.
606
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:13,840
I have a family, and I was not thinking
607
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:16,560
uh, the way I'm thinking
while I'm inside here.
608
00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:19,960
Maybe I wasn't thinking
if I'm gonna lose my family, you know?
609
00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,680
Now here, while I'm here,
610
00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,520
I really think, like,
I kind of lost my family.
611
00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,920
Now, I can't wait to go
meet my daughter now.
612
00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,360
Once you lose something,
you know the value.
613
00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:32,520
You understand yourself in prison.
You discover yourself here.
614
00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:37,280
[Rowe] To some, this might
seem like a cushy job for an inmate,
615
00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,640
but the nurturing environment here
616
00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:44,360
clearly is helping Mario
focus on his rehabilitation.
617
00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,040
Inmates are confined
to their blocks from 5:00 p.m.
618
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:54,920
In many prisons,
this is when they turn to drugs
619
00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,120
to get them
through the long nights behind bars.
620
00:30:58,200 --> 00:30:59,520
[Rowe] My move or your move?
621
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:01,880
-[Mario] My move.
-Oh, you're thinking hard.
622
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,600
I want to find out
if prisoners with a history of drug abuse
623
00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:06,960
are ever tempted.
624
00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:11,040
[Rowe] If I was using drugs,
could I get drugs in here?
625
00:31:11,120 --> 00:31:13,440
You will not find heroin.
You will not find cocaine.
626
00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,160
You will not find grass in here.
627
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:16,880
[Rowe] All prisons have drugs.
628
00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,800
[Antonio] You cannot find it.
629
00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:20,280
[Rowe] I don't believe that.
630
00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:22,440
[Antonio] If you don't believe,
you don't believe.
631
00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:23,600
[splutters] I'm not saying--
632
00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:24,760
[Antonio] You are surprised.
633
00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:25,720
[Rowe] I'm surprised.
634
00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:26,640
It's first.
635
00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:28,880
-You always have first time.
-Yeah.
636
00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,360
[Antonio] I took heroin for 15 years.
637
00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,320
If they have, I would find it for sure.
638
00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:37,080
I'm gonna be honest.
I-- I tried to find something.
639
00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:38,640
I-I've asked.
640
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:42,000
I try nine months.
I did not find anything.
641
00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:45,080
It's impossible. Impossible.
642
00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:48,440
[Rowe] They're telling me
that this is a drug-free prison.
643
00:31:48,520 --> 00:31:51,000
I was really surprised to hear that.
644
00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,320
What I will say is
normally when you're in a prison,
645
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:55,880
you get a sense that there are drugs.
646
00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:57,720
You get a… a smell.
647
00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,680
You get a… a feeling
that there is something going on,
648
00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:03,760
even if everybody's
trying to hide it from you.
649
00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,120
[inhales] And I've
not had that feeling here.
650
00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:10,160
There is lots of talk
about guards not being corrupted anymore,
651
00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:11,520
and where, once upon a time,
652
00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,120
they used to bring contraband
into the prison, including drugs.
653
00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:16,680
But that's been eradicated.
654
00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:22,440
Is this really the world's
only drug-free prison?
655
00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:27,560
If that's true, that's truly impressive,
what's going on here.
656
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,560
[doors opening]
657
00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:44,600
[Rowe] During my time here,
658
00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:49,320
the relaxed relationship between prisoners
and guards has surprised me.
659
00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:53,560
But before
the current director took over in 2014,
660
00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,920
the prison was notorious for allegations
661
00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,840
of guard violence against inmates.
662
00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:04,680
It was so bad here
that prisoners even committed suicide,
663
00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,520
and a lot
of the same guards still work here now.
664
00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,400
One of the first things
the director decided to change
665
00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:17,720
was the mentality of her staff.
666
00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:20,120
She built a new guard academy
667
00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,400
and boosted the annual training budget
668
00:33:22,480 --> 00:33:26,400
from just 6,000 euros to 100,000.
669
00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:32,640
You're gonna show Raph how we restrain,
uh, inmates in a humane way.
670
00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:36,200
[Rowe] Instructor Alexandros
heads up the program.
671
00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,640
What would be the first thing that you do?
672
00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:42,360
Always the first step
is just to avoid, uh, a fight.
673
00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:46,400
So if I'm coming at you, I'm abusing you.
"You fucking this. You fucking--"
674
00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,640
-Don't want you to do anything. I'm angry.
-I try to calm you, all right?
675
00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:53,320
So then I will try
with his weight to show you
676
00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:55,840
that I-- I am
bigger and stronger than you.
677
00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:58,040
-So let's go together, together, together.
-[grunts]
678
00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:01,600
Slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly.
Hey, hey, calm down, calm down, calm down.
679
00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:03,000
Calm down. It's not your fault.
680
00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,000
-It's nothing to do with me and you, okay?
-Okay.
681
00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,000
-It's over, okay? Are you okay?
-Okay.
682
00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:10,200
-Yeah, yeah. Okay.
-[chuckles] Let's go. Let's have a coffee.
683
00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,280
[chuckles] I don't know about
a coffee or anything, but brandy or a rum.
684
00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:17,200
Guards are now trained
to overpower aggressive prisoners
685
00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:18,640
without hurting them.
686
00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:20,600
So, try to attack me.
687
00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:22,960
All right. Okay. Let's go, guys.
688
00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,600
-Try. Okay. Yes.
-[Rowe grunts]
689
00:34:26,240 --> 00:34:29,040
[grunting]
690
00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:31,040
-Okay.
-Relax.
691
00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:32,400
[Alexandros] Yes. Relax. Easy.
692
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:33,560
-Easy.
-[instructor] Yeah.
693
00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:35,720
-Okay?
-Okay.
694
00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:37,120
[Alexandros] But I will--
695
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,400
-I want to ask you something, okay?
-[Rowe] Yeah?
696
00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,080
-You feel pain now?
-[Rowe] No, no, no.
697
00:34:41,160 --> 00:34:42,160
This is the point.
698
00:34:42,240 --> 00:34:43,960
That was interesting, because generally,
699
00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:46,440
when you're restraining someone,
you're normally saying,
700
00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,280
"Get fucking down!
Don't you fucking do that!"
701
00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,160
You weren't doing that. You were saying,
"It's not between me and you,"
702
00:34:51,240 --> 00:34:54,040
and you were kind of trying
to pacify me verbally.
703
00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:56,800
It's nothing to do with me and you,
all right?
704
00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:00,440
I try to put in your mind
that you have to stop now.
705
00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:02,000
There's-- there's no reason to fight.
706
00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:07,280
[Rowe] A lot of new guards have been hired
and trained with this humane approach,
707
00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:11,160
but Panagiotis has worked here
for nearly 30 years
708
00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:14,520
so has experience under former regimes.
709
00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:19,120
Were prisoners ill-treated,
beaten for no reason?
710
00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:21,160
Every day.
711
00:35:21,240 --> 00:35:25,480
[in Greek] Some were treated
like slaves by the guards.
712
00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:27,920
The idea was if he's in prison,
he needs to be punished.
713
00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:31,600
He needs to accept a beating.
714
00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:35,040
This resulted
in prisoners committing suicide.
715
00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:38,400
Suicides were a natural consequence.
716
00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,760
[in English] How did they change
your way of thinking and approach
717
00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:43,200
to dealing with prisoners?
718
00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,360
[in Greek] The new director came in
719
00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,160
and she tells you one word.
720
00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:50,840
Only one word. Human.
721
00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,040
She instilled into the staff
722
00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:57,480
that they're dealing with human beings,
not with animals.
723
00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:01,320
The director made me cry for a prisoner.
724
00:36:01,400 --> 00:36:04,200
If you told me 28 years ago
725
00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,120
that I'd cry for a prisoner,
I wouldn't have believed it.
726
00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:09,120
[Rowe in English]
Prisoners who may have been here
727
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:10,960
under the old regime are still here.
728
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:15,240
Do you find those dynamics
quite tricky to navigate?
729
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:19,160
[in Greek] The old days are over.
Now we treat them like humans.
730
00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:25,280
[Rowe in English]
The prison's director claims her reforms
731
00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:27,520
are changing prisoners for the better,
732
00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:30,600
and that on her watch,
733
00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:34,000
there has been
a huge drop in the re-offending rate.
734
00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:37,440
-[chattering]
-[laughing]
735
00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:39,680
[Rowe] I'm checking in with Antonio,
736
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,000
who's been in and out of prison
his whole adult life.
737
00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:47,000
His criminality is driven by addiction,
738
00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:50,560
and he has regular
drug counseling sessions to help him.
739
00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,640
[counselor in Greek]
Imprisonment will end sooner or later,
740
00:36:53,720 --> 00:36:56,320
and the most important thing
is what happens next.
741
00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:59,880
What troubles you?
742
00:36:59,960 --> 00:37:02,560
Due to the fact
that I did time at a young age
743
00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:04,080
and I was also a drug addict,
744
00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:08,920
I've joined several programs
and I am still stigmatized.
745
00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,800
-Mm-hmm.
-In here, we're fine.
746
00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:13,200
We're clean, and we're good.
747
00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:15,120
-But out there?
-Mm-hmm.
748
00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,200
Society does not treat us like that.
749
00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:21,800
[Rowe in English] In just a few weeks,
Antonio will be released.
750
00:37:21,880 --> 00:37:24,800
But there's such
a safe drug-free environment here,
751
00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:27,600
it's almost as if
he doesn't want to leave.
752
00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,880
[in Greek] I don't know
what happens when I get out.
753
00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:35,200
-Mm-hmm. At the same time though--
-And that's what stresses me out more.
754
00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:39,800
I will try to stay clean
as I have been for so long.
755
00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:43,480
And the best thing I can think of
to escape this is
756
00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:47,080
grabbing my passport
and getting out of here.
757
00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:51,240
Yes, but wherever you go,
you'll be facing…
758
00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:53,800
[Antonio] I'll be facing the same issue.
759
00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:56,280
I think it's an issue
I will always carry with me.
760
00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:00,800
[Rowe in English] The prison are doing
as much as they can
761
00:38:00,880 --> 00:38:04,760
through these drug therapy sessions
to change his way of life.
762
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,880
The question is whether they get
the same support when they leave prison,
763
00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:10,440
and I'm told that they don't.
764
00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:13,600
When he gets to the gate
and he's released,
765
00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,080
he almost goes back to square one,
and that's quite sad.
766
00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:19,120
Hopefully, this might be the last time,
767
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,840
but not even he
can answer that question right now.
768
00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,800
One remarkable thing about this prison
769
00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:35,760
is the regular opportunities
for male and female inmates to socialize.
770
00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,840
[Greek music playing]
771
00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:51,360
These prisoners are learning
traditional Cypriot dancing.
772
00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:11,440
The lady brave enough
to witness my moves is called Georgia.
773
00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:13,520
[shouting]
774
00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,360
[Rowe] And she's got a good reason
for all the practice.
775
00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:19,640
[in Greek] Tomorrow I am getting married!
776
00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:22,440
I am very happy and excited.
777
00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:24,480
-[in English] Getting married?
-[Georgia] Yes.
778
00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:26,360
[Rowe] Congratulations.
779
00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:28,240
Is your fiancé--
780
00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:30,120
In another block. Another block.
781
00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:32,280
-Oh, getting married to another prisoner?
-Yes.
782
00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:35,320
[in Greek] We were arrested for theft.
783
00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:42,000
We stole to feed our addiction,
and we ended up here.
784
00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:44,680
It's been two years
that we've been together.
785
00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:47,080
We decided to get married.
786
00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:49,320
You are welcome to come as well.
787
00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:52,560
[in English] Thank you so much
for inviting me to-- to your wedding.
788
00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:55,040
Congratulations.
And I will accept your invite.
789
00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:56,920
[in Greek] Thank you. Take care.
790
00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,280
-[Rowe in English] Thank you.
-Thank you. Nice to meet you.
791
00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:00,560
[both] Thank you.
792
00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:09,600
[Rowe] There is a female section
in this prison.
793
00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:11,840
They are separated
from the male population,
794
00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:15,600
but in these social events,
they get to have normal conversations,
795
00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:17,840
and that can only be a good thing
for when they get out,
796
00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:21,920
so they don't feel completely alienated
from the opposite sex.
797
00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:26,800
And that's one
of the key philosophies here,
798
00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:30,440
that their human rights and their ability
to live their lives normally
799
00:40:30,520 --> 00:40:34,800
within the confines of a prison
shouldn't be taken away from them.
800
00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:42,960
[doors clanking]
801
00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:48,080
It's my last day here
802
00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:51,600
and time to say goodbye
to my cellmate Phaethon.
803
00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:56,880
I want to find out if this prison's
approach has had a lasting impact on him.
804
00:40:57,480 --> 00:40:59,200
What-- what does your future hold then?
805
00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:01,800
Because you've spoken
to me quite highly about how this prison
806
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:03,480
is trying to change people.
807
00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:06,600
But there will come a day
when you have to pack your bags
808
00:41:06,680 --> 00:41:07,800
and you will leave here.
809
00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:10,360
Because of the culture of the prison,
which helped me,
810
00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:12,960
whatever is taking place in here
is helping you.
811
00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:15,360
You realize that simple things matter.
812
00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:19,560
Family, friends,
a walk at the beach, having an ice cream.
813
00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:24,640
Maybe with not, uh,
100,000 in your-- in the bank account.
814
00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:27,160
It sounds to me
that you just want a normal life.
815
00:41:27,240 --> 00:41:29,440
-Exactly--
-[Rowe] You had a particular lifestyle--
816
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:30,360
Yes.
817
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,160
Can you put your hand
on your heart… [gulps]
818
00:41:33,240 --> 00:41:35,440
…and say that
you'll never come back to prison?
819
00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:37,440
[Phaethon]
Uh, it's the only time I can do it.
820
00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:40,360
I wouldn't do it
for all the millions of the world.
821
00:41:40,440 --> 00:41:43,320
But you think this time when you go out,
you won't come back?
822
00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:44,680
I believe it.
823
00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:47,520
[Rowe] You never know for sure,
824
00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:52,200
but I can believe Phaethon
really has turned the corner for good.
825
00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:55,480
[wedding music playing]
826
00:42:02,840 --> 00:42:04,840
[singing]
827
00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,760
[Rowe] Georgia's wedding
is the 20th inside the prison
828
00:42:12,840 --> 00:42:15,120
since the director took charge.
829
00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:21,560
And she's tying the knot
in the prison's Greek Orthodox chapel.
830
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:26,280
There's-- there's
definitely a buzz in the air.
831
00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:30,000
It's a kind of Bonnie and Clyde moment,
but it's-- it's an exciting moment.
832
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:31,800
Two people getting married in prison.
833
00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:33,880
[singing]
834
00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:53,640
[Rowe] This is the, um, the first
Orthodox wedding I've ever been to.
835
00:42:53,720 --> 00:42:57,040
It's also the first wedding
I've ever been to inside a prison.
836
00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:59,160
Prison normally breaks love.
837
00:42:59,240 --> 00:43:02,400
Prison normally breaks up the love
between two people.
838
00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:06,520
But on this occasion,
it's brought two people together.
839
00:43:07,520 --> 00:43:09,520
-[cheering]
-[laughing]
840
00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:17,040
[Rowe] Demetrius, congratulations.
Good Luck.
841
00:43:17,120 --> 00:43:19,040
-Hello.
-[Rowe] Congratulations.
842
00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:20,520
-How are you?
-[Rowe] I'm very well.
843
00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:23,240
Enjoy the rest of your life,
whatever happens next, okay?
844
00:43:23,320 --> 00:43:24,440
Thank you.
845
00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:30,520
So, Raph, you see how we do things here?
846
00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:32,600
-Yeah? What do you think?
-It's unusual.
847
00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:36,480
I mean, some people would say
that the inmates have it too good here.
848
00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:38,200
And they're not being punished in the way
849
00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:40,080
their victims would expect them
to be punished.
850
00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:41,640
What do you say to those people?
851
00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:46,640
Well, uh, if the protection
and the safeguarding of human rights,
852
00:43:46,720 --> 00:43:51,920
uh, a humane approach
to human beings is a soft approach,
853
00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:53,680
then it will have a soft approach.
854
00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:56,800
We've seen the results,
uh, of the punitive systems,
855
00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:00,840
uh, when there were, uh,
serious violations of human rights,
856
00:44:00,920 --> 00:44:04,040
when there were six suicides
in ten months.
857
00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:07,920
[Rowe] When you talk about human rights,
what about the-- the victims,
858
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:10,680
the people that believe that
when people have committed a crime,
859
00:44:10,760 --> 00:44:11,800
they should be punished?
860
00:44:11,880 --> 00:44:14,800
I think that, uh,
society needs reformation.
861
00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:21,200
We say that, uh, this-- the people in,
uh, in prisons should change.
862
00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:23,480
I see them change.
863
00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:26,560
I see them develop, become better persons
864
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:31,160
and, uh, ready to reintegrate
successfully, uh, in the society.
865
00:44:31,240 --> 00:44:34,160
How do you define your success?
866
00:44:34,240 --> 00:44:38,680
The results, uh,
can be seen from re-offending rate,
867
00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:42,160
uh, which dropped to 15%,
868
00:44:42,240 --> 00:44:45,560
whereas previously,
it was more than, uh, 50%
869
00:44:45,640 --> 00:44:47,800
where the punitive system flourished.
870
00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:50,640
Can you define one thing that you do here
871
00:44:50,720 --> 00:44:55,720
that you really believe changes
the mindset and the outlook of prisoners
872
00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:58,160
so that they won't go out of here
and re-offend?
873
00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:00,360
Strong moral values.
874
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:05,640
Like, uh, integrity, fairness,
875
00:45:05,720 --> 00:45:07,960
respect, communication,
876
00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:10,040
love and support.
877
00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:15,240
And believe me, this is an incredible
feeling to work with these, uh, people,
878
00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:17,640
to see them develop, change,
879
00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:21,520
reintegrate into-- into society
880
00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:24,880
and become responsible,
law-abiding, uh, citizens.
881
00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:31,480
When I first came into this prison,
882
00:45:31,560 --> 00:45:34,080
I was skeptical
about how they do things here,
883
00:45:34,160 --> 00:45:37,440
but the director's revolutionary approach
to rehabilitation,
884
00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:41,040
where punitive methods have been replaced
by a more humane regime,
885
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:42,360
seems to be working.
886
00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:45,200
Not everyone will agree,
and that's understandable,
887
00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:48,800
but in my experience,
what they're doing in this prison
888
00:45:48,880 --> 00:45:51,400
is really helping inmates to reform.
889
00:45:57,720 --> 00:45:59,720
[theme music playing]