Inside the World's Toughest Prisons

In season 1 episode 1, Paul (the host) was invited to "sit in" on an inmate's meeting with a judge. Not only did the host interrupt that meeting, by asking both parties questions instead of waiting until the end, but he completely undermined the inmate in front of the judge. The host asked way too many probing questions into the lives of these inmates, and according to Raphael Rowe, season 2's host, that's a rookie (and costly) mistake. Paul's lucky he had cameras with him, or else he would've been screwed for sure!

How are people getting this backwards?? They probably switched hosts because bless Pauls heart he sucked at it, they needed someone who knew what prison was like, and they found the perfect host in Raphael. He's been to prison, he knows what it's like, but the big thing is he wasn't guilty. So, perfect. Love the show, not season 1 so much. Would love to see Raphael re-visit the season 1 prisons and do it right.

I'm confused why there are such negative reviews? This show is very intriguing and kept me on my toes in many episodes (I.e. the episode where his cell mates wanted to take advantage of him sexually). I rate this 9/10 for taking the viewers into prisons all over the world!

Finding host Raphael's dialogue with the prisoners interesting he does well establishing rapport but his comments afterwards lack awareness - is he is just lacking anything better to say so says any old criticism he can think of?

For example about one prison who allows people to choose to access services not doing enough seems to have a complete lack of awareness of the process people go through when making change and how in rehabilitation such as with addictions they often need to be at rock bottom and ready to make change and choose for themselves / they cannot be forced to change (they will just stop immediately once no one is standing there over them) but he wants them to force rehabilitation.

Another example is how he describes another group being required to take part in taking care of the little things such as keeping their own space clean (sweeping up or cleaning) being "meaningless" and "menial" - failing to recognizing that learning to take pride in caring for yourself and your little space around you is a tiny but important foundation of routine and change for someone who has had no upbringing that teaches them to value these things.

I love Raphael Rowe. He is raw and real, while actually caring, with a natural instinct for this. The other host, not so much. He tried, but it just wasnt the same.