Inside the World's Toughest Prisons

10 Best Episodes of Inside the World's Toughest Prisons

Paul Connolly goes behind the bars of some of the World's most notorious prisons (the first season ran on Channel 5 UK originally before Netflix has bought up the format).

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 08, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S1E4

#15 - Philippines (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Connolly spends time in two different prisons in the Philippines, where overcrowding, gangs and severe intimidation are a way of life.

The episode was rated 7.06 from 48 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S2E3

#14 - Papua New Guinea: The Breakout Prison (Season 2 - Episode 3)

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Raphael Rowe visits the short-staffed Bomana Prison in Papua New Guinea, where near-constant food shortages keep the facility on the brink of chaos.

The episode was rated 7.14 from 35 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S5E2

#13 - Philippines: The War on Drugs Prison (Season 5 - Episode 2)

Once again, Raphael Rowe volunteers to go behind bars, this time in the Philippines at Manila City Jail, one of the world's most overcrowded prisons.

The episode was rated 7.23 from 30 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S3E1

#12 - Costa Rica: Prison on a Knife-Edge (Season 3 - Episode 1)

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Though he's no stranger to life behind bars, Raphael Rowe concedes that Costa Rica's La Reforma Prison is certainly among the most intimidating.

The episode was rated 7.25 from 32 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S3E3

#11 - Romania: Gypsy Prison (Season 3 - Episode 3)

Raphael Rowe spends a week at a maximum security prison in Craiova, Romania, where the inmates include rapists, murderers and contract killers.

The episode was rated 7.29 from 35 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S6E4

#10 - Greece: The People Smugglers Prison (Season 6 - Episode 4)

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The episode was rated 7.29 from 17 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S3E2

#9 - Colombia: Narco Prison (Season 3 - Episode 2)

While spending a week inside Bogotรก's fortress-like prison, Raphael Rowe must negotiate the oppressive atmosphere and deal with an ominous threat.

The episode was rated 7.30 from 33 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S6E3

#8 - Bosnia: The Mafia Prison (Season 6 - Episode 3)

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The episode was rated 7.32 from 19 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S5E3

#7 - Greenland: Prison in the Ice (Season 5 - Episode 3)

Greenland's Nuuk maximum security prison houses extremely dangerous prisoners, many of whom grew up alongside the guards now watching over them.

The episode was rated 7.35 from 31 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S4E3

#6 - Mauritius: The Extreme Punishment Prison (Season 4 - Episode 3)

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The tropical island of Mauritius is home to Melrose maximum security prison, where even the smallest infraction is met with extreme punishment.

The episode was rated 7.41 from 34 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S6E1

#5 - Moldova: The Lifers Prison (Season 6 - Episode 1)

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The episode was rated 7.45 from 22 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S5E1

#4 - South Africa: The Number Gangs Prison (Season 5 - Episode 1)

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At Brandvlei Correctional Centre in South Africa, nearly all the convicts belong to dangerous gangs known for lethal stabbings.

The episode was rated 7.46 from 35 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S4E4

#3 - Lesotho: Confronting Sexual Violence (Season 4 - Episode 4)

An unnerved Rowe contends with aggressive cellmates at Maseru prison, where a high number of inmates are behind bars for rape.

The episode was rated 7.58 from 33 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S4E1

#2 - Paraguay: The Most Dangerous Prison on Earth (Season 4 - Episode 1)

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Raphael Rowe spends a week behind bars at Tacumbu prison in Paraguay, where inmates scrounge in the trash in order to pay their own way.

The episode was rated 7.61 from 41 votes.

Inside the World's Toughest Prisons - S3E4

#1 - Norway: The Perfect Prison? (Season 3 - Episode 4)

Many prisons aim to punish and demean inmates. Norway's Halden Prison -- as Raphael Rowe is about to see for himself -- does things differently.

The episode was rated 7.78 from 36 votes.

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