Prison Chronicles

For a century, France shipped prisoners to Devil's Island located off French Guiana so they would vanish from the public eye. It's most famous prisoner Alfred Dreyfus is a military officer convicted of crimes he didn't commit. Prison justice is dealt out by a guillotine nicknamed "The Merry Widow." And a daring escape by sea through shark infested waters and dangerous currents.

Deep in the heart of the Confederacy, Andersonville is the last place a Union soldier wants to end up during the American Civil War. Only opened for 14 months it's the deadliest American prison, becoming the final resting place for over 12,000 men. Dorence Atwater creates a secret list which later becomes instrumental in marking gravestones at the historic site. The renegade General George Stoneman attempts to liberate the horrendous prison. And a vicious prison gang known as "The Raiders" terrorizes their brothers-in-arms.

Located in the heart of London on the River Thames, the Tower of London's reputation for torture and beheadings fuels nightmares. Originally built as a fortress by William the Conqueror in 1078 it becomes a prison in 1101. Here the Queen, Anne Boleyn faces the executioner's blade. Convicted terrorist Guy Fawkes refuses to talk, and two young princes are betrayed by their own family.

Within the first forty years of operation of the Soviet Gulag system, at least 18 million people were imprisoned and more than one and a half million die. At its peak, the Gulag is comprised of nearly 500 prison districts with up to 30,000 individual prison camps. They stretch across the vast country--many of them in remote locations and harsh climates--like Siberia, and Central Asia. These are three of the most incredible tales of the fight for survival. First, a system designed to starve and work inmates to death. Then--a 40-day siege that comes to a terrible end and finally--a political prisoner who risks his life to expose the system to the world.