After 142 years HMP Barlinnie is closing its doors – the prison is Scotland’s largest jail and houses over 1,400 inmates in five gigantic Victorian halls. The most infamous jail in Scotland, Barlinnie has built up a fearsome reputation for violence and drug taking over its 140-year history.
On the verge of a new super jail this series explores the prison’s recent past, and how it has shaped the approach to modern jails and rehabilitation in Scotland. Barlinnie explores the lives of current prisoners and staff as well as delving into a dark history of hangings, riots and escapes that have shaped the prison for over a century.
