Las peores cárceles del mundo

To start, a lot of the reviews for this show have issues with one or both hosts. I happen to like both hosts. Paul because as an investigative journalist without a criminal background he's unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the environments he is put in. Raphael because of his prison history (he served 12 years in maximum security after being wrongly accused and later released) and an understanding of what goes on inside. I like the fact the show isn't just beeped out profanities thrown at each other, fighting, etc. The show creates a non-threatening vibe that tends to get some really bad people, in some really bad places, to open up about some things. If you want a bunch of thugs acting like animals and going after each other this isn't the show. If you want to learn about the way different prisons work and get an inside look at internal politics, gang power, and individual stories this show is for you.

In season 1 episode 1, Paul (the host) was invited to "sit in" on an inmate's meeting with a judge. Not only did the host interrupt that meeting, by asking both parties questions instead of waiting until the end, but he completely undermined the inmate in front of the judge. The host asked way too many probing questions into the lives of these inmates, and according to Raphael Rowe, season 2's host, that's a rookie (and costly) mistake. Paul's lucky he had cameras with him, or else he would've been screwed for sure!

I'm confused why there are such negative reviews? This show is very intriguing and kept me on my toes in many episodes (I.e. the episode where his cell mates wanted to take advantage of him sexually). I rate this 9/10 for taking the viewers into prisons all over the world!

Watched the whole four seasons on Netflix here in Sweden. It's very interesting but what a difference between hosts! I do like Paul but not for this series. When Raphael started in the second season it became a totally different show with so much better interaction and understanding. I must say Raphael is a man with a big heart and mind and I'd like to see him in different formats of other series. He's extremely human and humble and it's a joy to watch him.

The series span prisons across the globe and boy how different countries handle their politics of law and order and how different the prisoners are treated and viewed. It's almost ironic to see the difference between the Norwegian prison and those of South America for example. I do like the fact that we get an insight into the prisoners life and mind but should never forget about the victims even though we feel sympathy with the murderers. I'm still very conservative when it comes to offenders and I feel no punishment is enough for the really heavy criminals.

Finding host Raphael's dialogue with the prisoners interesting he does well establishing rapport but his comments afterwards lack awareness - is he is just lacking anything better to say so says any old criticism he can think of?

For example about one prison who allows people to choose to access services not doing enough seems to have a complete lack of awareness of the process people go through when making change and how in rehabilitation such as with addictions they often need to be at rock bottom and ready to make change and choose for themselves / they cannot be forced to change (they will just stop immediately once no one is standing there over them) but he wants them to force rehabilitation.

Another example is how he describes another group being required to take part in taking care of the little things such as keeping their own space clean (sweeping up or cleaning) being "meaningless" and "menial" - failing to recognizing that learning to take pride in caring for yourself and your little space around you is a tiny but important foundation of routine and change for someone who has had no upbringing that teaches them to value these things.