>> bernd junge( translated ): well, this is about being reintegrated into a normal life, and that meansat. so for me, yes, this is part of it. >> whitaker: this doesn't look much like punishment. >> junge ( translated ): yes, well, that's the german fairy tale. >> whitaker: after 15 years in prison, he's earned weekend leave for good behavior. he's on track for early release. in germany, 75% of lifers are paroled after 20 years or less. >> joerg jesse: if someone says to himself, it's a german fairy tale, if he doesn't commit any crimes anymore after release, it's okay. he can think about his imprisonment, what he wants. >> whitaker: joerg jesse is a psychologist by training. he's now director of prisons in mecklenburg-western pomerania, a state in north germany along the baltic, about the size of new hampshire. there are rich fields here, brilliant sunsets, and waldeck, the maximum security prison where bernd junge has served his time. should he have a future for himself? he took a life. >> jesse: yes, he should. >> whitaker: he should? >> jesse: he should. >> whitaker: jesse invited u

you could escape if you wanted to. >> bernd junge: yes. >> whitaker: but you don't? why not? >> junge ( translated ): very simple. my time is almost over, and i want to be done with this chapter of my life, once and for all. >> whitaker: at pennsylvania's graterford prison, this is where murderers are housed, locked up 23 hours a day. >> i'm still hungry. still hungry. >> wetzel: i think, more now than any time in the history of our country, we have the right and left agree that we've-- frankly, screwed up the corrections system for 30 years, and it's time to do something different. it really starts with understanding that, you know, a human being's value isn't diminished by being incarcerated. >> whitaker: what you're talking about requires a huge mind shift on the part of all of us. >> wetzel: it's crossing the grand canyon, is what we're talking about. >> whitaker: since our story first aired, bernd junge earned his release from prison, and so did his fellow inmate joerg muehlbach. a prison supervisor tells us they have stayed out of trouble and are doing well. >>