A former inmate at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary says a new prison won’t change anything without new programming.

Rod told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that he spent a year inside the Pen, and says there is a lot of misconception about the facility, and how old it really is.

He says older portion, called “East Wing Bottom,” is the part that needs to be replaced. He says this is where the kitchen is located. The main living area was built in the 80s.

Rod calls the older portion “disgusting,” and says it needs to be replaced, but he says the bigger problem is boredom.

Rod says while the physical structure can easily be remedied, he says it is the policies and attitudes need to change.

He calls it “cruelty” that inmates simply have nothing to do.