Decades ago, this wall used to separate different areas of Batang City Jail. Now inmates are free to walk between the areas, however gangs make some areas off limits. The wall is covered with paintings painted by inmates as part of their rehabilitation and to beautify the prison.
Inside Batang City Jail —
Decades ago, this wall used to separate different areas of Batang City Jail. Now inmates are free to walk between the areas, however gangs make some areas off limits. The wall is covered with paintings painted by inmates as part of their rehabilitation and to beautify the prison.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
Prison researcher Clarke Jones walks across a basketball court at Batang City Jail, accompanied by a former senior prison superintendent, a correctional official from Australia and other guards.
Rival gangs operate in prison —
Prison researcher Clarke Jones walks across a basketball court at Batang City Jail, accompanied by a former senior prison superintendent, a correctional official from Australia and other guards.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
Rice cookers in the prison kitchen. Inmates are given three meals a day, but many need to supplement their intake with food from other sources, Jones says.
The kitchen —
Rice cookers in the prison kitchen. Inmates are given three meals a day, but many need to supplement their intake with food from other sources, Jones says.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
Inmates create businesses selling food to other inmates within prison grounds. "There are also restaurants and other food businesses run by different inmates, but all pay taxes to their affiliate gangs," Jones says.
Food shops —
Inmates create businesses selling food to other inmates within prison grounds. "There are also restaurants and other food businesses run by different inmates, but all pay taxes to their affiliate gangs," Jones says.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
This coffee shop in prison grounds is run by a gang, Jones says. Other inmates work here where they learn how to bake, serve customers and operate a business.
Coffee shop —
This coffee shop in prison grounds is run by a gang, Jones says. Other inmates work here where they learn how to bake, serve customers and operate a business.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
This building used to be used to accommodate prisoners on death row. "The top floor is occupied by VIP inmates who use to (and probably still do) renovate their cells into more luxury units, i.e. aircon, flat screen TV, queen size beds and tiled bathrooms," Jones says. "The cells are sold onto other wealthy inmates once the occupants are released -- a kind of a real-estate market."
VIP rooms —
This building used to be used to accommodate prisoners on death row. "The top floor is occupied by VIP inmates who use to (and probably still do) renovate their cells into more luxury units, i.e. aircon, flat screen TV, queen size beds and tiled bathrooms," Jones says. "The cells are sold onto other wealthy inmates once the occupants are released -- a kind of a real-estate market."
Courtesy: Clarke Jones
This is the peacekeepers headquarters. "Peacekeepers or trustees generally consist of former police or military who have been imprisoned for various offenses but help prison guards with peace and order. Even the peacekeepers are gang members," Jones says.
Peacekeepers building —
This is the peacekeepers headquarters. "Peacekeepers or trustees generally consist of former police or military who have been imprisoned for various offenses but help prison guards with peace and order. Even the peacekeepers are gang members," Jones says.
Courtesy: Clarke Jones