Behind Bars Osaka Prison: Life under Iron Discipline!

The Fire Island - Russias Alcatraz | Investigate Asia Terrorists, gunmen, and mafia bosses are serving their life sentences in the Russian penal camp "Vologodski Pjatak" aka Russia's most feared prison. The fortress on the island of Ognenny was built as a monastery in the 16th century. Later the "Fire Island" was converted into a gulag for enemies of the state after the October Revolution of 1917. Since 1994 it has been a maximum security prison. Christoph Wanner is the first Western TV reporter to manage to shoot behind the prison walls on the Island of the damned. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to Investigate Asia - Explore the diverse landscapes of Asia through in-depth documentaries that delve into the region's politics, economy, culture, and history. From ancient traditions to modern innovations, our content offers a unique perspective on the forces shaping Asia today. Join us on a journey to better understand one of the world’s most dynamic and influential regions. Whether you're a history enthusiast or curious about global affairs, this channel is your gateway to discovering Asia.

Behind Bars Taiwan: Taichung Men´s Prison | Investigate Asia The Taichung Men´s Prison is the biggest and toughest prison in Taiwan. It houses four and a half thousand inmates. Among them some of the most dangerous criminals of the whole country. Over a hundred life sentences alone and more than a thousand prisoners are serving sentences of twenty years or more. Monotony, confinement and around the clock video surveillance everywhere dictate the lives of the inmates. Only one time a week the inmates are allowed to spend time on the yard. The prison works with what is known as progressive correctional treatment. This means that prisoners are divided into four levels. The better a prisoner behaves, the higher their level. And this determines, for example, how many packs of cigarettes a prisoner can buy and how often he is allowed to have visitors. The most important thing, however, is that the length of imprisonment is reduced with each level obtained. For most prisoners, this is a good reason to cause as little trouble as possible. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to

Prison Life: Justice in Japan | Investigate Asia Prison Life: Justice in Japan We gained unprecedented filming access to two Japanese prisons to find out if accusations that the system is inhumane are true. What we witnessed was staggering. Inmates must march to their worksites attached by a cord; they are not allowed to look the guards in the eye; outside of scheduled leisure hours, they must maintain absolute silence, unless they have obtained prior permission to speak. The treatment of suspects in custody pushes many to confess to crimes which they did not commit, as was the case with one man who spent 46 years on death row. He was finally exonerated six years ago, but was left broken. We try to explain why a country which operates on strict principles of balance and order might choose such a repressive system, and see if this may explain Japan having one of the lowest crime rates in the world. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to Investigate Asia - Explore the diverse landscapes of Asia through in-depth documentaries that delve into the

The Calas Case: A Fight for Justice and Religious Freedom One of the most remarkable cases in European legal history revolves around the tragic death of the Calas family’s eldest son in 1761. Accused of murder under suspicious circumstances, the family became entangled in a web of prejudice, corruption, and judicial malpractice. The case exposed troubling intersections between the state, the church, and the judiciary, revealing how societal and religious biases could distort justice. The scandal drew the attention of philosopher Voltaire, who saw in the Calas affair a profound injustice and an opportunity to champion religious tolerance and civil rights. Through his writings and advocacy, Voltaire not only fought to exonerate the Calas family but also ignited a wider discussion across Europe about the role of the state in enforcing moral and religious conformity. The Calas case stands as a historical example of how one family’s tragedy can spark reforms in law, public consciousness, and the protection of individual freedoms—laying the groundwork for modern principles of justice and religious liberty. ►

Behind Bars: CPDRC, Philippines | Investigate Asia Cebu, Philippines: a city divided between tourists and those struggling to survive. Many encounter gangs, drugs, and violence early, with some ending up at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Here, convicts serve sentences while others wait for years in pretrial detention. Day shifts start at seven, and everyone — including staff — is strictly checked. Guards like Cristopher Somoza face murderers, traffickers, and drug smugglers daily. Inmates run their own community, led by Lionel, known as Bosyo, with his bodyguards, the Menaria, enforcing order. Fifty-three women are also imprisoned, some serving long sentences, others waiting years for a verdict. Despite strict separation from male inmates, relationships like Salomeo and Flor’s exist, though physical contact is minimal. Counting procedures are three times daily; any discrepancies lead to strict punishments, including the feared solitary confinement. At night, only five guards oversee nearly a thousand prisoners, leaving them largely to their own devices — until a large-scale raid by a national elite unit exposes shocking realities. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to Investigate Asia

No Go Zones: Quirino, Philippines | Investigate Asia Quirino – one of the toughest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the world. Territory of the Batanga City Jail gang. An area that even the residents of Quezon City avoid like the plague. For the past twenty years, Gang Boss Jo-Jo has been ruling over Quirino, fiercely defending it against its enemies. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Welcome to Investigate Asia - Explore the diverse landscapes of Asia through in-depth documentaries that delve into the region's politics, economy, culture, and history. From ancient traditions to modern innovations, our content offers a unique perspective on the forces shaping Asia today. Join us on a journey to better understand one of the world’s most dynamic and influential regions. Whether you're a history enthusiast or curious about global affairs, this channel is your gateway to discovering Asia.