- 6/1/2025
Picaleña prison in Colombia, the country's fifth-largest, houses over five thousand men and women. Known for its high security, no prisoner has ever escaped. Life here is marked by strict rules, monotony, and frequent arguments among inmates. Carlos, 28, is serving 27 years for murder, drug dealing, and fraud, while his wife Lilian, incarcerated just 200 meters away, is serving time as an accessory to murder. Family imprisonment is common due to the familial nature of drug trafficking. Carlos's weekly highlight is courtyard time, where inmates can play football or do other sports.
During the day, prisoners must stay out of their cells unless they have work, leading to boredom and frequent arguments. Without a job, inmates pass the time with games involving cigarettes. Carlos struggles to get through each day. In contrast, 41-year-old Saul works in the wood workshop, having served two years of an 18-year sentence for a "false positive" killing. A former military man, Saul has grown to love carpentry and plans to work as a carpenter after his release.
During the day, prisoners must stay out of their cells unless they have work, leading to boredom and frequent arguments. Without a job, inmates pass the time with games involving cigarettes. Carlos struggles to get through each day. In contrast, 41-year-old Saul works in the wood workshop, having served two years of an 18-year sentence for a "false positive" killing. A former military man, Saul has grown to love carpentry and plans to work as a carpenter after his release.
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TVTranscript
00:01A different world.
00:05With its own rules.
00:09Cinco. We have a word here in prison.
00:12Cinco. It means fists.
00:14The fists take away the anger.
00:17Zero tolerance.
00:20We look for prohibited items such as drugs, knives,
00:23stabbing weapons, anything with the blade.
00:26All this behind bars.
00:30Gangs.
00:34Violence.
00:38Drugs.
00:42Harassment.
00:50A daily survival of the fittest.
00:53In the toughest prisons in the world.
01:00Ibagi.
01:02A city of 500,000 inhabitants in central Colombia.
01:06The South American country is the world's largest cocaine producer.
01:10Violence among drug gangs is high.
01:12Over 13,000 people were murdered in 2023 alone.
01:17Making Colombia one of the top 15 countries with the highest murder rate.
01:25The result.
01:26Colombian jails are bursting at the seams.
01:29Like Picalena prison.
01:31It's the fifth largest in the country.
01:33Over 5,000 men and women are incarcerated here.
01:38It's a high security bunker from which no prisoner has yet managed to escape.
01:44Strict rules, monotony and arguments among the inmates determined life in one of Colombia's toughest prisons.
01:53It's 6 a.m.
01:54Picalena prison is slowly coming to life.
01:55The shift begins for the guards.
01:56One of them is 27 year old Palomino.
01:57He has been working in the prison for a year and a half.
01:58He has been working in the prison for a year and a half.
02:00It's 6 a.m.
02:02Picalena prison is slowly coming to life.
02:04The shift begins for the guards.
02:06One of them is 27 year old Palomino.
02:09He has been working in the prison for a year and a half.
02:10For security reasons, uniforms may not be worn outside the prison walls.
02:12Before starting their shift, the guards change in the prison dormitory.
02:13The shift begins for the guards.
02:16The shift begins for the guards.
02:20One of them is 27 year old Palomino.
02:23He has been working in the prison for a year and a half.
02:26For security reasons, uniforms may not be worn outside the prison walls.
02:32Before starting their shift, the guards change in the prison dormitory.
02:37Palomino has 12 hours of duty ahead of him.
02:48While I'm dressing, I always pray.
02:51Just for myself.
02:53I pray to protect me from bad things happening.
02:56Like a riot.
02:58Or something like that.
03:02Palomino is in a hurry.
03:04Morning roll call is about to begin.
03:07If you're late, you'll be on duty at one of the unpopular posts that day.
03:16Attention, gentlemen.
03:22Everyone eagerly waits to see where they will be assigned.
03:26Every day, prison management reassigns the guards to the various posts.
03:31It's a measure designed to prevent bribery.
03:38Fortunately, the block I'm assigned to today is rather quiet.
03:43I'm on duty there quite often.
03:45But you can never trust the peace.
03:48We always have to be alert and prepared for something to happen.
03:51Prepare this day.
03:52The prison consists of two areas.
03:59The entrance area with the administration, the dormitory for the guards, and a training area.
04:06Adjacent to it is the actual prison, surrounded by three six-meter-high fences.
04:12Within this area, there are seven cell blocks.
04:18Each of the blocks is structured like a separate, smaller prison.
04:23Unit 1 is the oldest part of the prison, and also the largest block.
04:30Unit 2 has space for some 800 medium-security prisoners.
04:33The isolation wing is also located here.
04:38Unit 3 is the high-security area.
04:41Unit 4 is the women's wing.
04:43450 female prisoners are serving their sentences here.
04:48Unit 5 is for prisoners serving medium sentences and remand prisoners.
04:53The so-called trusted inmates live in Unit 6.
04:57Unit 7 is the VIP block.
05:02Only former state employees and older prisoners are housed here.
05:06Anyone wishing to enter the interior of the prison must first pass the drug-sniffing dogs, including the guards.
05:15Let's study the political killer.
05:16We're trying to avoid nightgresses.
05:26We are searching for all kinds of narcotics.
05:32We've had visitors try to hide drugs in latex, such as condoms, or on toothpaste, or coffee, and also on cleaning products.
05:42They do that to distract the scent of the drug-sniffing dogs, but that doesn't work.
05:47Our dogs always find the drugs.
05:54Palomino and his colleagues are clean.
05:57Next comes the security check.
05:59Money, alcohol, knives and cell phones are also strictly forbidden.
06:12Palomino is now on duty in Block 2, which is at the far end of the prison.
06:23Piccaleña Prison was built in 1982 and initially only consisted of Block 1.
06:31Gradually, more and more blocks were added.
06:35Block 2 is one of the most modern.
06:43Over 800 male prisoners are housed here in five units, known as pavilions.
06:49Inmates here are serving sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years.
06:57Together with three other colleagues, Palomino was now responsible for pavilions 16 and 17.
07:04205?
07:09No, 204.
07:17Just four guards are responsible for over 400 inmates here.
07:22And they are almost exclusively murderers, drug dealers and rapists.
07:27Palomino and his colleagues do not carry weapons.
07:31Their only means of defense is a baton.
07:34The first step is the head count.
07:38The wardens also check that everyone is uninjured and in good health.
07:44We counted the prisoners.
07:57No one is missing.
07:58We do that every day.
07:59In both pavilions everything is in order.
08:03Each pavilion consists of a large inner courtyard, around which the cells are arranged.
08:07During the day prisoners can move around freely in the inner courtyard.
08:16Barbed wire on the roofs and several surveillance cameras ensure an escape is impossible.
08:26All the furnishings such as tables and benches, wash basins and toilets are made of metal.
08:36There is no chance of destroying them and turning them into weapons.
08:41The cells are spread over two floors.
08:48Four to five prisoners share one of the twelve square meter cells.
08:53The furnishings are spartan.
08:55Beds and the shelves for everyone are clumped together.
08:59The wash basin and toilet are in the middle of the room.
09:03There is no shower.
09:06A narrow window offers only a depressing view of the outside fences.
09:1328-year-old Carlos has been sentenced to 27 years for murder, drug dealing and fraud.
09:20Worse than being in prison is the loss of his family.
09:24In the three years I've been here in prison, I haven't been able to meet my daughters.
09:35We had a few video calls, so at least I could talk to them and see their faces.
09:42But that was it.
09:44His wife is also in prison.
09:47His wife's family has broken off all contact with him.
09:50He no longer has any contact with his own family either.
09:55To be honest, I never really talk about it.
09:59It really gets to me.
10:01It hurts a lot.
10:03In a place like this, you don't talk about such feelings.
10:06That shows weakness and under no circumstances should you show weakness here.
10:11But it makes me very sad.
10:14Very sad.
10:15These feelings are very strong.
10:17Knowing that I'm in my hometown, that my own family lives here and that three years have passed without anyone visiting me.
10:26The only support he receives is from his wife Lillian.
10:31She is serving time for accessory to murder just 200 meters away.
10:36The two are allowed to see each other regularly in prison and talk on the phone almost every day.
10:41His bed is full of her presence.
10:44These are our names, Carlos and Lillian.
10:48And some encouraging words and fond memories.
10:55That's her, she said.
10:57Married couples or even entire families in prison is nothing unusual in Colombia.
11:04Drug trafficking is often a family business.
11:078.30 am.
11:10Some of the prisoners are preparing to go to work.
11:14Now we close all cells.
11:16This always happens after the head count.
11:20This means everyone must leave their cells.
11:23If you don't have a place to work, you have no other choice but to hang around in the courtyard for the next few hours.
11:30Closing the cells reduces the violence among the inmates and it gives us a better overview of the prisoners and allows us to better control them.
11:48If they want to do something that's prohibited, they like to do it in secret in their cells.
11:53That's why we lock them.
11:55The cells remain closed until the afternoon.
11:59A fifth of the prisoners go to work or school.
12:14Before they leave the pavilion, Palomino and his colleagues search everyone thoroughly.
12:20We look for forbidden items such as drugs, knives, weapons, anything with the blade.
12:35Anything that is prohibited.
12:39Prisoners from different pavilions are about to come together.
12:43This creates a potentially dangerous situation.
12:50Each block has its own workshop and classrooms.
12:58This means inmates do not have to leave the block.
13:02The woodwork shop is in block two.
13:05The work here is intended to keep the prisoners busy and show them new possibilities for their time after prison.
13:12Here too, every move is monitored.
13:16Only those who have done nothing wrong are given a job.
13:2141-year-old Saul has been working here for two years.
13:25He used to be in the military and was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a so-called false positive, for killing an innocent civilian.
13:34Work is a way for me to deal with the monotony here.
13:40It's a chance to escape the boredom and forget that I'm in prison.
13:47That's the most important thing.
13:52When I'm here in the workshop and I'm working, I no longer think about the fact that I'm in prison and all that.
14:01That's what I like most about my job here.
14:04There are no wages. Instead, the prison sells the goods prisoners produce.
14:13The inmates receive the proceeds, minus the cost of the materials.
14:18By working, they can also reduce their sentence.
14:22Three days of work equals one day less spent in prison.
14:25My work here helps my children. I have three children.
14:30I'm trying to put some of the money away to buy tools and start my own handicraft business later.
14:37That's my goal after prison. I definitely want to continue working as a carpenter.
14:41He hopes to receive around $700 for his current work.
14:52He fully understands that working here is a privilege, especially since inmates in this shop handle sharp and pointed tools.
15:01I don't see it as a weapon. I see it as a tool. It's just a working tool.
15:10Of course, you can use it for fighting or something like that.
15:13I used to be a soldier, but I'm not here to cause stress and I won't let anyone provoke me.
15:18I won't let anyone take away the opportunities I have here.
15:22I have a family. My goal is to get out of here as quickly as possible, away from this place.
15:27However, it will be at least another 10 years before that, assuming Zaul doesn't do anything wrong in the meantime.
15:42Those who do not have a job hang out in the courtyard.
15:48In Pavilion 16, Juan Jose ensures order and discipline.
15:52Each pavilion has a boss. He settles disputes, mediates as a human rights officer in the event of complaints between the prison and inmates, and organizes communal life.
16:07Are you a cleaner?
16:09For the backyard.
16:11Yes, who else?
16:13What do you want us to do?
16:15Do me a favor. Pick up all that stuff. The towel, the shoes.
16:18Yes, of course.
16:20Pick it up. You know what? The gym should be well organized, please.
16:27Juan Jose has been in prison for almost eight years.
16:31The former businessman has gradually worked his way up to his position.
16:36One of the most important things he organizes, water distribution.
16:40All the water for the 200 inmates in the pavilion comes from these pipes, whether for drinking, showering, flushing toilets or washing clothes.
16:52I select people for the various tasks based on their character. They have to be responsible and reliable.
17:04It doesn't matter whether they are new or not. They don't get paid for it or anything.
17:10But they have a task. Something to do. Something to keep them occupied.
17:16If you want to get involved in this pavilion, we give you the opportunity to do so.
17:27Even if, at first glance, the jobs look like menial tasks, they offer prisoners the opportunity to move up the hierarchy.
17:35Previously, it used to be very different. Everyone just wanted to affirm their own interests, with their fists or a machete or something.
17:52That has now changed. Those who respect others are also respected.
17:56If a newcomer comes and thinks he has to destroy the peace in Karl's dress, whether out of boredom or because he is unhappy, then we make sure he goes somewhere else.
18:07Constant boredom is one of the main reasons arguments erupt.
18:13If you don't have a job, you have few ways to keep yourself occupied.
18:16Games involving cigarettes are extremely popular. Carlos also tries to somehow get through the day.
18:26Each day in prison is the same. It's a constant routine.
18:31We always get up at six o'clock, we are counted, we take a shower, and then we have breakfast.
18:40And so it goes on through the day.
18:43It's always the same. We try to keep occupied by playing board games and things like that.
18:52Most of the men here used to be in a gang, Carlos included.
18:57His numerous scars and tattoos bear witness to this.
19:03He is used to solving problems through violence.
19:08This fact makes it all the more difficult for him and the others to keep a low profile here in prison.
19:15Everything here is a challenge. The bathroom, the shower, the food, simply everything.
19:27We are always all together here. You always have to be careful and exercise restraint.
19:34If you are not in the rhythm of the prison, you are always going to be an outsider and therefore in danger.
19:40And you can't follow your impulses, even if you pull yourself together.
19:46It still remains difficult.
19:49So many different characters come together here and some of them are aggressive.
19:54It's a challenge every day.
19:55In the event of a fight or attack among the prisoners, the guards have an alarm button at their station.
20:08There is a control panel in the main station on which the alarm is displayed.
20:23Then a loud siren sounds. Everyone who is somehow available has to run to the station and help out.
20:30Smoke gas canisters are available in every station for exceptional situations.
20:41There is a strict protocol for this.
20:44We are only allowed to use them if the life or integrity of a prisoner is in danger.
20:50Or that of a guard, of course.
20:53And only if there is no other option.
20:55The gas helps to break up large groups and get the situation under control.
21:06First and foremost, Palomino and his colleagues never let the prisoners out of their sight to prevent this from happening.
21:13Escaping from Picaleña Prison is virtually impossible.
21:23The entire prison is surrounded by three fences, each six meters high.
21:29From its watchtowers, guards can keep an eye on every corner.
21:34Civilian police patrol the perimeter of the prison.
21:38Just in case someone does manage the impossible and gets over the multiple walls of barbed wire.
21:49The individual blocks are additionally secured with three rows of fencing and barbed wire.
21:55Each block also has its own watchtower.
22:08Block seven is a very special block where no ordinary prisoners are housed.
22:13The block is for older prisoners and former civil servants.
22:17Most of them are convicted of corruption.
22:19Our camera team is not allowed into the cell wing, as no one is supposed to see what it looks like inside.
22:28The only thing to see is the block's workshop.
22:32This is where prisoners sew work clothes for their fellow inmates.
22:36He used to be a prison guard himself.
22:4054-year-old John Carlos was convicted of drug smuggling and corruption.
22:46At first, it was a shock for him to be on the other side.
22:53I was a bit scared at first.
22:55Fear is a human emotion.
22:58I think that's quite normal.
23:00When I was on my way here, it was a very queasy feeling.
23:05Of course, you wonder what will happen.
23:09How will they treat me?
23:11How will they receive me?
23:13I knew that if I was sent to prison and they put me in a normal wing,
23:18then my life would be in danger from the very first moment.
23:22No question about it.
23:24He worked for 30 years in an even bigger prison than Picalena.
23:31He was even an inspector, a rank just below the warden, until the lure of money became too great.
23:42It was a bad decision that has brought me here.
23:49I failed.
23:52I made a mistake.
23:55I didn't think about the consequences.
23:57I took it too lightly.
24:00And now I have to pay for it.
24:04I was just too ambitious.
24:07If you're too ambitious, you take risks.
24:11At some point, these risks get bigger and bigger.
24:16You no longer think rationally, and you risk more and more.
24:20Being behind bars himself also makes him see his former job in a different light.
24:29As a guard, he would do many things differently today.
24:32I would be much more human, reserved, much humbler.
24:45Why?
24:47Because when you stand on the other side of the bars, as a guard,
24:50you can hardly imagine how inmates suffer.
25:04A rather late realization.
25:06There is also a complete block for women in Picalena prison.
25:16Around 450 female prisoners are serving their sentences here.
25:21Most of them for murder, drug trafficking, or both.
25:24Here, too, everyday life is a constant struggle.
25:32The women are not particularly squeamish.
25:3934-year-old Erica has been here for eight years.
25:43Sometimes we can solve problems by talking.
25:46But most of the time that doesn't help much.
25:49There is no tolerance.
25:50What happens then?
25:54We grab each other.
25:56We grab each other by the hair.
25:59There is one word here.
26:01Cinco.
26:02It means something like fist.
26:04The fists take away the anger.
26:06Of course, we also try to talk to each other.
26:09And if not, then suddenly it starts.
26:12We use our fists.
26:14We fight.
26:17Or we stab.
26:18If you can't solve a problem any other way, then you stab.
26:23You take a hairbrush or pencil and turn it into a weapon.
26:28Just take the handle and attach a pointer blade to it.
26:32However, when it comes to disputes, there is a golden rule.
26:37If we see the girls coming, it's over immediately.
26:41As long as no one is seriously injured, there are no problems.
26:46Otherwise, in the end, everyone will have to pay for it.
26:53It also applies to women.
26:55If you don't have a job, you have to spend the day in the courtyard and just kill time somehow.
27:03The women's cells are also only 12 square meters in size.
27:08Up to six women share a cell.
27:11Some of them sleep on mattresses on the floor.
27:13The bathroom consists of just a wash basin and toilet.
27:21Those who don't want to use one of the communal showers in the courtyard can shower over the toilet bowl.
27:28We lay towels on the floor and then sit down on the toilet.
27:39We soap up and then get up to thoroughly scrub ourselves.
27:45Then we sit down again and pour water over ourselves and it runs down the toilet.
27:51That's how you sit there.
27:56To wash your feet, we put a foot on here and then soap it up and wash it off.
28:05Privacy is not an option.
28:09While almost everyone in Pavilion 23 has a prison sentence of over 20 years,
28:15things are a little quieter in the second pavilion for women.
28:17Around 80% of the prisoners here are on remand.
28:22Lillian, the wife of inmate Carlos, is also sitting here.
28:27Today is a good day for her.
28:29As a reward for going to school, the judge has confirmed that she will be released from prison sooner.
28:37This document means a lot to me.
28:40It eases my concerns.
28:43At least a little.
28:44Because now I can see my family and children again sooner.
28:49They deducted 528 hours of my sentence.
28:55That amounts to 22 days.
28:59It doesn't sound like much, but in prison every day counts.
29:02She got 13 years for being an accessory to the murder committed by Carlos.
29:06We did it together.
29:08I've never accused him of that, and I never will.
29:12I told him this many times.
29:14We're both here because we both did it.
29:17We're both guilty.
29:19Lily and Carlos have been a couple for nine years.
29:23Despite being in prison, he is still the man of her dreams.
29:27It's not easy because of the distance.
29:33But after everything we've been through, we're both still alive.
29:39We'll get through this, and then we can move on with everything we had planned.
29:43With our dreams, and our love.
29:52And I ask God to give us the opportunity to get out of this.
29:58To move forward, to be able to give our daughters a great future.
30:02To be able to be with them, and fill them with love.
30:05Whether she still sees it that way when she gets out remains to be seen.
30:12Carlos will still have at least another 10 years ahead of him.
30:19Natalia is the guard in charge today.
30:23She knows only too well how high the potential for aggression is among the women.
30:29This is why she and her colleagues regularly carry out unannounced searches.
30:33Searches are randomly conducted by the female guards.
30:56They often try to hide marijuana or other drugs in their shoes.
30:59Or some sharp objects they make themselves, that they can then try to attack other inmates with.
31:07They most often hide things in their shoes.
31:20The rules are strict.
31:22Lighters with spindles are prohibited.
31:23With a little skill, you can build a kind of metal saw from the coiled wire that produces sparks.
31:31The guards always stay together during the search.
31:35They know only too well that the prisoners are not to be trusted.
31:38Hey, stop it! Get your hand out of there!
31:55This prisoner seems to be trying to hide something.
31:59And indeed, Natalia finds a pair of scissors.
32:07The scissors are confiscated.
32:10She could attempt to hurt another prisoner with them.
32:13Natalia is alarmed.
32:16She now takes a much closer look at the prisoner.
32:18Is she hiding something else?
32:19It could have contained alcohol.
32:31Or something else that's forbidden.
32:34But despite a thorough search, she finds nothing except the scissors.
32:40After an hour, the search is completed.
32:57Natalia shows why she confiscated the harmless-looking kraft scissors.
33:02The women made this themselves from a pair of scissors.
33:10One prisoner used them to attack another inmate.
33:15The fight happened about a week ago.
33:19And the victim was injured in the ear.
33:22The attacker actually wanted to slash her face, but she only caught her on the ear and arm.
33:27Fortunately, we were able to separate the two quickly.
33:36An argument between two prisoners can quickly turn into a mass brawl.
33:41Or even a riot.
33:47By now, it's lunchtime.
33:52Each block has its own kitchen.
33:57Three meals a day are prepared there.
34:05Meat is served at least once a day.
34:12The inmates do the cooking.
34:18One of them is 43-year-old Gustavo.
34:21He has been behind bars for 17 years.
34:24This is one of the best jobs in this prison.
34:28Actually, in any prison in Colombia.
34:33If you work in the kitchen, you always have enough to eat.
34:38And we're busy all day.
34:40The pay here is also good.
34:43You not only get a reduction to your sentence, you also get paid money.
34:47We earn the legal minimum wage here in Colombia.
34:51That's great.
34:53That's around $350 a month.
34:57In prison, that amounts to a small fortune.
35:00Gustavo used to be a teacher until he was sentenced to 27 years for rape.
35:05In Colombia, it's a crime that's harshly punished.
35:10I used to make eggs for my children.
35:15And occasionally for lunch.
35:17Here is where I learned how to cook for a thousand people.
35:22And quickly, too.
35:24It wasn't easy to learn.
35:26It's a large kitchen here.
35:27I also had to learn how all the equipment worked, for example.
35:32He is now an absolute professional.
35:37And already has plans for his time after prison.
35:41I'm thinking about opening my own small restaurant.
35:46I enjoy cooking.
35:48I know I'll never be able to go back to my job as a teacher.
35:54So I think that's a good idea for a fresh start.
35:57In five to six years, he could be released on parole and realize his dream.
36:06Before the food is served, a civilian cook checks the taste and temperature once again.
36:12The prison management attaches great importance to quality, as the food is an important factor in the prisoner's mood.
36:29The prisoners eat in the block's huge dining hall.
36:33Leftover food in the pavilions would quickly attract pests.
36:36Here, too, every movement of the prisoners is strictly monitored.
36:53To avoid arguments, everyone gets exactly the same amount.
36:57Food is eaten from plastic containers.
37:00Another safety measure.
37:02Of course, not everybody is totally happy with the food.
37:07The food is sometimes a little cold.
37:13Or not quite tender.
37:16And the portions are very small.
37:20It doesn't fill you up.
37:24We are left hungry.
37:27But we still enjoy the food.
37:30There are no supplements.
37:31If you have a job or a family who sends money, you can buy extra food in the prison store.
37:44Let's go! Go! Back to the pavilion! Come on!
37:47The prisoners reluctantly return to the confines of the pavilion.
37:50In the afternoon, prisoners in pavilion 16 head to the exercise yard.
38:06They are allowed onto the sports field once a week.
38:08The prisoners are searched beforehand.
38:12It is difficult for the guards to keep an eye on everyone on the large sports field.
38:18And Palomino actually makes a find.
38:21A drug pipe.
38:23The owner is now in a lot of trouble.
38:25A discovery like this can lead to a change in the security level.
38:31They are then moved to a different block or even placed in solitary confinement.
38:36Or they simply lose certain privileges.
38:39That almost always happens.
38:41The prisoners have one hour.
38:44Most of them use the time to let off steam.
38:47Soccer is very popular.
38:49Everything looks peaceful, but Palomino knows it can't be trusted.
39:01We have to be very vigilant out here.
39:04Because the main entrance to the block is at the back.
39:10There is a high risk that prisoners will seize the opportunity and try to escape via the nearby main entrance.
39:17Carlos is completely in his element.
39:22He played for a soccer club as a youngster.
39:25His chances of a professional career were not bad at all.
39:29But then money and drugs became more important.
39:37It was of course my dream to become a great footballer.
39:41And if I had the chance, I'd still love to become one.
39:44It's still my passion.
39:47To be honest, sometimes I still dream of being a great footballer or a great goalkeeper.
39:53Maybe I'll get another chance.
39:55Since Carlos will be almost 50 when he is released, it is a rather unrealistic dream.
40:03But for the moment at least, soccer allows him and the others to forget everyday life in prison.
40:10The women are also granted yard time.
40:14They are allowed outside twice a week.
40:18And, as we'll see in a moment, they use this time for dating.
40:23Inside, in the courtyard, you often feel very cramped.
40:27It's confining.
40:29It's terribly loud and there are so many people there that it's hard to think.
40:32You can't really be carefree.
40:34I feel much freer out here.
40:37I can sit down and think, talk and even be sad sometimes.
40:41Here I don't have the pressure of constantly being watched by others.
40:45It's different here.
40:46But for the women, the most important thing is that the courtyard is used for a kind of dating spot.
40:55From here, they have a clear view of block five.
40:59They use a specially developed sign language to communicate with the male inmates there.
41:04Kaolina explains how the sign language works.
41:12For example, we use letters.
41:15This is an A. This is a B. This is a C. This means D. And this is an E.
41:21This means I have a favor to ask. This is a heart.
41:25And these are many, many, many kisses.
41:27Kaolina has been in Pikaleña prison for a long time.
41:32She uses every second in the yard to chat.
41:38I'm talking to my husband Fabian right now.
41:43I said hello to him.
41:46Hello, my love.
41:48And another heart.
41:51I said I love you.
41:54I really love you.
41:55We got together three years ago and got married.
42:00We got to know each other through the court chat here.
42:04A prison love story.
42:10A lot has changed for Kaolina as a result.
42:14I'm very happy to have him.
42:18You're under constant pressure here in prison.
42:20Most everyone here is very lonely.
42:25Most have no one.
42:29No one they can talk to.
42:31I have him.
42:33I share my worries with him.
42:35We laugh.
42:37And we also talk on the phone.
42:39About everything.
42:40About everything.
42:41In twelve years.
42:43The first time I think I fell really in love with someone.
42:47Then it's time for her to say goodbye for today.
42:54Ladies, time's up.
42:55We're going back.
42:56It will be another two days before the women will be allowed outside again.
43:15The cell closes at 4pm.
43:18Ladies, headcount.
43:20Reluctantly, the women follow the instructions.
43:25Natalia and her colleagues count the prisoners one last time for the day.
43:30Then everyone goes back to their cramped cells.
43:46They won't be unlocked again until 6 o'clock the next morning.
43:5014 long hours and 12 square meters.
43:55And without any privacy.
44:03Erica tries to stay occupied by drawing.
44:07She sends the pictures to her daughters.
44:10Or swaps them for other things in prison.
44:12The 34-year-old is serving time for drug dealing and murder.
44:17Her story is typical of many in here.
44:21I come from a neighborhood where there are drugs everywhere.
44:25A lot of drugs, a lot of crime.
44:27And you see people getting killed all the time.
44:32I then became a member of a gang.
44:37I mainly did it for the money.
44:38And I liked it.
44:40I always wanted more money.
44:43I sold more and I said to myself,
44:46come on Erica, do that too.
44:47Kill people for money.
44:49It was only here that I understood what I was really doing.
44:54I truly wish I could turn back time and change a lot of things.
44:58Erica has decided to change her life.
45:03Primarily because of her three daughters.
45:15I keep thinking about the time after prison.
45:18I know I'll never be able to go home again.
45:22I still have too many unpaid bills there.
45:26That means I'll have to go somewhere else and start all over again.
45:37I look for a job.
45:39I don't know, in a restaurant, in a bakery or a supermarket.
45:44In any case, I want to be a good role model for my daughters.
45:50With good behavior, she can be released in around six years.
46:05The men are now also locked up in their cells.
46:11While many of them are thinking about their time after prison,
46:15Carlos has no plans yet.
46:17I don't really think much about the time after prison.
46:22And I've kind of forgotten about these three years I've been living here.
46:26I try to live every day as if it were my last.
46:30I don't count the days.
46:32I don't count how long I've been here, nor how long it will be before I get out.
46:37It doesn't make sense.
46:39My sentence is far too harsh for that.
46:42So far, there hasn't been much in the way of discernment or the willingness to change.
46:50What depresses me the most is that I can't fulfill my responsibility as a father.
46:58That's what bothers me the most.
47:02It really hurts.
47:04But I don't regret what I've done outside.
47:07It was necessary.
47:09I don't regret it because I had to show who I was and what my place was.
47:14Carlos will spend at least another 20 years behind bars, without seeing his children grow up.
47:27As night falls, things slowly become quiet again in Picaleña prison.
47:37Until the next morning, when a new day begins in one of Colombia's toughest prisons.
47:45...
47:53We're facing the last...
47:56...
47:58...
48:00Our Lemких
48:05Lessons at 545
48:07...
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