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	Reporter Anton Foek discovers why prisoner Anthony ended up the most secure section of Oak Park Heights.

According to a report entitled ‘Unlocking America’ crime rates in the US today are similar to those in 1973; but compared to 1970 there are eight times as many prisoners. The JFA Institute, the criminal justice research group who issued the report, are calling for courts to hand out fewer and shorter prison sentences.

A prison officer told Anton that prisoners have committed ‘every crime

	The riot guards demonstrate how they prepare to suppress any disorder.

Since 95% of offenders will eventually be released the idea is to rehabilitate them.

“We want them to be able to handle the responsibility, because they’re going to be sitting next to us at a bus stop, in a movie theatre, or they might be your neighbour and being here is the punishment. We’re not here to punish them.”

The first prisoner Anton spoke to was Mike. His crime was a homicide that he committed when he was 53.

Mike, now 62, says that his crime was a spontaneous reaction to events. He is paying the price for his actions now and regrets the crime and the pain he has caused.

Mike met the wife of the man he shot:

“They have two little children and of course I feel horrible about that.”

Mike says that being in prison isn’t like being on the outside but as long as he keeps a positive attitude ‘I get along fine.’ Mike also says he is helped by maintaining links to the outside world, including his family.

Anton asked whether Mike had ever dreamt his life would turn out this way.

“No. If you’d have told me ten years ago that I would be here now it’s one of those things where I would have thought it ludicrous. I’ve never been in any trouble…I don’t have a great temper. I had a very successful business.”

Anton leaves Mike and goes to another part of the prison to experiences ‘The end of the road’. He is told “It doesn’t get any more secure than this.”

Anton wasn’t allowed into the cell but he spoke to inmate Anthony through the door.

Anthony is 30. He is extremely isolated, spending 23 hours a day in his cell.

Anthony says that it’s the second time he’s been in prison. The first time he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. This second conviction for murder is a crime Anthony attributes to making the wrong choices.

He says he tried to stay out of trouble but he couldn't stay away from alcohol.

After committing his crime, Anthony hid from the police- but he called his mother who told him to do the right thing.

“She called the police …and I turned myself in.”

Anthony will eventually get out of prison but at the moment he accepts that he is in the secure section because he has a problem with staying out of trouble.