. >> reporter: for all the skal lor, danger and corruption here, it offers prisoners something different. >> everything we do by ourselves, you know? >> reporter: charlie, a convicted murderer who helps the elected inmate regime run the prison, showed us around from the hospital -- >> the prisoners in here have to take care of the sick. >> reporter: to the carpentry workshop. is it better that you can run it yourselves? >> i think it's more human, you know? >> reporter: we got a sense of that human touch, playing foosball with the kids. hey! so, maybe it's not so bad here. >> there's store s open, there' restaurants, families. but you don't feel safe? >> no, because you walk around with security. >> reporter: jacob has been here just short of a year now. he says he would do almost anything to get out, almost. >> if they would make me sign a document that i have done something wrong, i will never do that. >> reporter: you will not do that? there i will not. >> reporter: he's lost 40 pounds in prison and as she leaves, myriam is worrying her husband is nearing a mental breakdown. when you