Prisoner’s experiences as windows into understanding prison and society: The case of Pademba Road Prison in Sierra Leone

This illustrative case chapter shows that the experience of being in prison is neither totally separate from life outside of prison nor completely
adjacent to socio-political orders. Rather, the relationships are more complex. This is demonstrated through an ethnographic discussion of the
experiences of four imprisoned persons at Pademba Road, a male prison in Freetown, Sierra Leone The imprisoned persons each respond
di!erently to their imprisonment, based on factors like their social status, the crime they committed, and their own personal resources. This
illustrative case chapter looks at: 1) how these imprisoned persons find ways to either work with or against the prison system's rules; 2) how this
a!ects their experiences of being inside the prison; 3) how this shapes the extent to which the prison can exert overall power and influence. By
exploring how prisoners and prisons shape each other, we gain a better understanding of the role and place of prisons in society, including how
prisons relate to social conditions, power, and politics. Prisons mirror historical and sociopolitical inequalities both within a country and globally.