< images © Virgile Bellaiche
Peripheral areas often resemble open-air prisons, where inhabitants experience structural violence and discrimination from childhood onwards. Failing education and health systems are unable to support the ones who need it. In such a context, prison embodies and exacerbate social divides. In response, organisations of relatives become spaces of resistance, justice, and freedom, where alternative scenarios are created.
This six-episode docuseries was produced, in collaboration with Acifad (Argentina), Amparar (Brazil), Relais Famille (Canada), OIP-SF (France), Documenta (Mexico) and POPS (United Kingdom), as part of the Connecting Stories Beyond Bars. project.
Prison Insider sincerely thanks all those who trusted us and shared their story.
Argentina
ACiFaD
Brazil
Amparar
Canada
Relais Famille
France
OIP-SF
Mexico
Documenta
United Kingdom
POPS
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More episodes
The power of the group (1/6)
Testimonial
America
Europe
Access to legal rights
Torture
Violence
Social ties
Hearing the voices of relatives of incarcerated people in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico and the UK reveals one key finding: the group brings enough strength to build resistance. Coming together offers a space for dialogue, mutual support, and the ability to build concrete responses to d…
The echo of violence (2/6)
Testimonial
America
Europe
Access to legal rights
Mental health
Violence
Social ties
How are the lives of relatives affected when someone they love is deprived of liberty? Feelings of powerlessness, dehumanisation, daily life disruption — prison affects not only the incarcerated people but also, often invisibly, those left on the outside.
The cost of incarceration (3/6)
Testimonial
America
Europe
Justice
Mental health
Material conditions
Social ties
Rehabilitation
The State deprives people of their freedom and ignores everything else. It is the relatives — most often women — who bear the costs of imprisonment and support those in prison, while trying to keep life going outside.
From experience to action (6/6)
Testimonial
America
Europe
Access to legal rights
Justice
Social ties
The prison system deprives and marginalises, but resignation does not prevail. Relatives take action and demand justice to build a system respectful of human rights.