In prison: This is how young women live in the Zweibrücken prison!

In prison: This is how young women live in the Zweibrücken prison!

In Germany, the juvenile justice system is a world that many people cannot understand in reality. Life behind bars represents a particular challenge, especially for young women, whose number in prison only makes up around four percent of the total. Insights into this everyday life are provided by the documentary [ZDF] about the JVA for women in Berlin-Lichtenberg and the JVA Zweibrücken, which is considered the central location for women's prison in Rhineland-Palatinate.

In the prison for women in Berlin-Lichtenberg, inmate Samira describes the first months of her imprisonment as extremely difficult. The loss of freedom weighs on them, and contact with the outside world is limited to phone calls from the detention room, as cell phones and social media are not allowed. The twin sisters Anna and Emmi, who are housed in the Zweibrücken JVA, have a similar experience. Anna was imprisoned first, while Emmi followed almost two years later. Both of them had little structure in their lives outside of prison, which led them into criminal paths.

Everyday life in prison

Everyday life in the prisons is strictly regulated. There are clear rules, fixed procedures and controls that shape life in the institution. Correctional officers Renate Render and Sabine Eckert provide insight into the challenges that the prisoners face. They talk about the tension between closeness and distance, which represents both a challenge and an opportunity for support for the carers.

In the Zweibrücken JVA, life behind bars with open cell doors is reminiscent of that of a residential group, but the prison conditions are anything but easy. Suddenly shrill screams echo through the wing of the young female prisoners. Everyday life is characterized by topics such as arguments, addictions and even first love stories, while work in the correctional facility gives the women a regular daily routine with clear tasks and boundaries.

The challenges in prison

Life in the prison is not only characterized by conflict, but also by community and cohesion. In the institution, the women experience opportunities for development and social interactions through cooking evenings and sports. Such moments can provide rays of hope in the often dark everyday life and help prisoners to feel a little more comfortable in their difficult situation.

Reporting on the lives of young women in prison helps raise awareness of this issue and sheds light on the difficulties they face. The documentary [ZDF] and the reporting [Rheinpfalz] show how different the lives of women in prison can be while at the same time trying to find their place in a difficult world.