The World's Worst Prisons
Inside Stories from the Most Dangerous Jails on Earth
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The World's Worst Prisons
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Narrated by:
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Colin Mace
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By:
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Karen Farrington
About this listen
Incarceration has a long and inglorious history, from dungeons in the bowels of castles to oppressive penal colonies in Australia. Karen Farrington brings this history up to the 21st century, exploring some of the world's worst prisons, from Alcatraz to Pollsmoor, and the unending battles that rage between convicts and warders. Inside the prison walls, gangs rule, guards devise sadistic punishments, and newcomers suffer abuse at the hands of experienced tormentors.
The World's Worst Prisons is packed with shocking accounts of prison breakouts, drug smuggling and life on death row. It also explores the politics of incarceration, including the harsh labour camps of North Korea and controversies surrounding private management of prisons.
With prison populations rising each year, questions surrounding incarceration are all the more pertinent. Whether focusing on punishment, containment or rehabilitation, the prison system is imperfect and The World's Worst Prisons examines this dysfunction through some of the most dangerous jails on earth.
What listeners say about The World's Worst Prisons
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steven Gerweck
- 06-10-24
A flawed, but necessary system
Karen Farrington explores the history of incarnations dating back to Biblical days, then transports the listeners to today's prisons, different forms of punishment, and corruption. The author has certainly done her homework providing history, eyewitness accounts, alarming statistics, and research studies on the topic. In this work, you will be exposed to prisons you likely never heard of, and stories that are hard to fathom,
ADX in Florence, Colorado has detained members of the Al-Qaeda network, Terry Nichols, who conspired with Timothy McVeigh in 1995 to blow up the The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, and several convicts that were linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. ADX, is just one of several supermax facilities to house the most dangerous criminals.
While the U.S. prison system has its problems, the detention rooms at HM Prison Maze in Northern Ireland are described as "cell hells." where sexual transmitted disease is common, and prisoners have been know to smear fecal matter on the walls. North Korea still operates concentration camps for "re-education" purposes. Due to a lack of food service, prisoners must scrounge for anything to survive on, such as frogs and snakes.
In "The World's Worst Prisons," Farrington cites examples where the inmates took control of the prison, having access to alcohol and porn, all being facilitated with use a cell phone. The author also shares tales of harrowing gang activities, prison riots, and jail breaks. She also examines the different forms of punishments still be utilized across the world, such as public hangings, and examines the psychology of being on death row as it varies from culture to culture.
The author makes conclusions on how the prison system has changed over the years, and what the future holds. I do recommend this book!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katie Taylor
- 04-29-24
Very interesting read
I thought the book would be a bit dry, but in fact it kept me interested from start to finish. The chapters seemed a bit short on each subject, but there was a lot to cover. Definitely recommend!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Justin Williams
- 04-15-24
Very informative and heartbreaking.
A captivating audiobook that sheds light on the realities of incarceration around the globe. While the subject matter is undoubtedly harsh, the book's exploration is both informative and thought-provoking.
The narrator's voice draws you into the stories, making the accounts of prison life all the more impactful.
This isn't just a voyeuristic journey into despair. The audiobook doesn't shy away from the difficult aspects of prison life, but it also explores potential solutions and positive stories of resilience. Listeners are left contemplating the role of prisons in society and the possibility for rehabilitation.
"The World's Worst Prisons" is not an easy listen, but it's a necessary one. It's a powerful audiobook that will stay with you long after the final chapter.
I received this audiobook for free from the publisher.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MFHRaptor
- 04-14-24
Broad and multifaceted display of penal reality
We think of incarceration establishments as necessary to perform certain basic functions such as shielding communities from criminals, and allowing reform and correction to the institutionalized population. However, such institutions often perpetuate abuse and damage to those incarcerated, and what's awful is that the power given to the governing bodies and prison authorities can often be exploited by corrupt officials.
This book starts with a concise historical introduction to prisons throughout the ages till we reach our current times. Its chapters reveal the devolved state and hardships of modern prisons, then exhibits violent prisoners, prison gangs, and high-profile prison escapes, before delving into capital punishment carried out inside, and finally overviewing current day prisons.
Sobering.. eye-opening.. at times grim, but ultimately quite engaging.
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