Among murderers: A look behind the prison walls in Berlin!

Among murderers: A look behind the prison walls in Berlin!

In a discussion-based exploration of prison life, the new podcast series “Among Murderers – Life in Prison” will start on October 22, 2024. Produced by Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) in collaboration with Tagesspiegel, the eight-part series offers in-depth insights behind the walls of the Tegel Correctional Facility in Berlin. The related podcast series is presented by rbb presenter Teresa Sickert and Tagesspiegel author Katja Füchsel, who were in intensive contact with four inmates of the Tegel JVA over a year and a half.

The podcast series is special because it addresses the often opaque and complex facets of life behind bars. The listeners follow the stories of convicts who were sent to prison for terrible crimes. The protagonists include Thomas Rung, once known as Berlin's most dangerous serial killer, and Leon Bikowsky, who murdered his own father at the age of just 22. The stories not only address the murders and crimes, but also the emotional and psychological state of the prisoners during their time in prison.

Insight into hectic prison masses

A total of eight episodes discuss how prisoners develop over a long period of time. Topics such as loneliness, hope and sadness come to life in the conversations. Katja Füchsel's reports reveal how various prisoners deal with their past and whether they can embrace change together with their fellow prisoners. What happens to people who spend decades in prison? Can these criminals become better people behind bars?

This podcast answers this through the perspectives of inmates and correctional facility staff. The judicial officers bring an additional voice into the discussion, reporting on the challenges of rehabilitation and the difficulties associated with reintegrating into society. This creates a multifaceted picture of detention that goes beyond the simple assumptions that the general public often has.

One of the memorable themes of the first two episodes will be the question of how mental illness and past offenses influence the existence of prisoners. In particular, the discussion about Thomas Rung, who deals with his remorse, and Leon Bikowsky, who made life difficult for himself during his time in prison, will remain in the audience's memory. Added to this is the lifelong experience of “Lummi” Kubisch, who has been in prison for over 25 years and is now, at the age of 75, hoping for freedom.

The energy of the podcast is reinforced by the combination of storytelling and analytical studio conversations. Katja Füchsel shares her experiences straight from prison, while Teresa Sickert deepens and analyzes the topics with her in the studio. Together, the two journalists not only bring expertise in the area of ​​true crime, but also a human perspective on the often taboo topic of rehabilitation.

Podcast access and more

The first two episodes will be available from October 22, 2024 not only in the ARD audio library, but also on tagesspiegel.de and other platforms where podcasts can be found. After the start of the first two episodes, new episodes appear weekly, always on Tuesdays. For those interested, trailers and content are available before publication, and interviews with the presenters can also be requested.

The podcast series “Among Murderers – Life in Prison” is a courageous attempt to shed light on the human side of offenders and the prison system, reassessing the line between good and evil. For a comprehensive overview of the situation, take a look the report on www.presseportal.de.