The freedom that begins in prison
In the Smrekonica Correctional Center, convicts prepare for life outside prison.
Ardian Zena, 43, travels over 180 kilometers to his workplace outside the Smrekonica Center every day. Photo: Ferdi Limani / K2.0
Around 90 convicts are serving their sentences at the Smrekonica center. Photo: Ferdi Limani / K2.0
The rehabilitation of prisoners in preparation for life after prison is a key feature of the Scandinavian model, which views imprisonment as a deprivation of liberty, but not of dignity or opportunities. Photo: Ferdi Limani / K2.0
Convicts who cannot work outside the Smrekonica Center are engaged in work within the institution. Photo: Ferdi Limani / K2.0
“Every convict in this institution is one step away from freedom. They see it with their eyes.”
Faton Rexhepi, prison guard.
Besian Beha
Besian Beha is a journalist at Nacionale. With eight years of experience, he has worked for various online media and the public broadcaster RTK. He has received a number of journalism awards for his coverage of transitional justice and women’s empowerment in the workplace. Besian is a fellow of the fifth cycle of K2.0’s fellowship program.
This story was originally written in Albanian.