Behind Bars: What life is like in Singapore's Changi Prison | Full series

We take a look at how Changi Prison inmates receive medical treatment, live in senior- and infirm-friendly cells and work at a call centre to stay employable - all from behind bars.

00:00 Introduction
00:18 How inmates are treated at a public hospital
03:50 Changi Prison's assisted living facility
06:51 Inmates working at a call centre

Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories:

Follow us:

[JB-egtb]

Respecting their privacy to minimize the stigma when they are release shows humanity. Thanks for sharing this!

[zrad]

CNA insider is really one of the best show segments ever.. i SALUTE the team for always challenging the norms and putting out consistent quality content. simply amazing

[TheStickyDynamite]

Crazy how prison messes with your sense of time. The lady thought it was iPhone 12 now but it's actually iPhone 16.

[penguin]

This is such a humane, effective and efficient system. Letting the inmates work make them feel a level of self efficacy and worth. They may feel the motivation to continue after their release.

I suppose all the videos about the worst prisons and the TV series give me a certain impression of jails and would a series set in Singapore's prison setting help to entertain and create awareness at the same time?

[oceanwave]

Putting a person in prison is extremely costly: it wastes the labor from the prisoner; it costs salaries to prison keepers as well as all the facilities; it costs justice system (judge, lawer, police...) to investigate and carry out the sentence; it costs the prison's family (no more income, thus, the government is forced to take care of the family); the prisoner who will be released later in life, could find his life wastful, thus, possibly committing crime again. In short, we all should prevent crimes at very early stages, for example, education, local community, etc.

[paatipaati]

This is my country I love sg activities for Singaporean ❤

[jefflim]

I am now really curious about the cost to maintain the prison and also the cost incurred for each prisoner. It must be quite high. It is like when someone get jail term, the govt is required to pay that person living expenses.

[Ruhgtfo]

Meaningful and inspire, wish that lady have gooddays afterall

[btan]

The prison is clean and well maintain. It's a good place for the inmates to cultivate and amend their lives for a bright future.

[shairulamirosman]

Malaysia should follow Singapore system in dealing with inmates who are treated at hospital, clinic etc.

[maxsweater]

The jails in Singapore is way better than a normal life in Bangladesh

[Kiaaats]

At least when they die, they won’t die without people not knowing, a lot of people die alone, sometimes for many weeks before people knowing

[WillyYoung-hxjq]

It was chaotic and violent scene working as a Prison Nurse in the kingdom dangerous directorate of prison health and reformatory. Not all Nurses dare to work in the most perilous cell facility.

[Rav-pven]

Who is paying the medical bill for this inmates??

[lilianteo]

It is no holiday inside. Don't envy over healthcare inside!!! Why didn't they tell about dengue fever inside?

[ResidentNotEvil]

Life behind bars way better free meals place to stay

[krollpeter]

Suggestion: Those to whom the client is so grateful for their good service he or she feels to show some appreciation may be donating on an account, which is then used to save some money for the time the inmates are released. For example, the value of a simple food court meal. But inmates should not be allowed to promote this actively, so it really comes out of free will.

[Rav-pven]

Please comment CNA. If you feature a story like this, please cover the loop. Better health care than me. No queue and all taken care off.

[jackolee]

Who's paying for all their treatment in the hospital?

[asuramaru]

Is it true that they receive free healthcare