“Kontrovers – de Podcast iwwert de Strofvollzuch” is a Luxembourgish podcast that explores the prison system and its broader social context. Our aim is to shine a light on topics that are often left in the shadows – incarceration, justice, rehabilitation, but also related issues such as addiction, migration, poverty, and exclusion. We do not seek sensationalism. Instead, we want to understand how the prison system works, who is affected by it, and how it could be improved.
This podcast follows in the tradition of the historic Radio ARA programme “Iwwert d’Maueren ewech!”, hosted for 35 years by Jeannot Schmitz. With this new format, the topic of the prison system returns to the airwaves in a renewed form, adapted to contemporary challenges.
The podcast offers an informative and analytical look at the Luxembourg prison system: the functioning of institutions, conditions of detention, life paths of incarcerated people, the role of institutions, and human realities that are often absent from public debate. It also explores alternatives to incarceration, different forms of sanction, and approaches linked to restorative justice, which remain largely underrepresented in public discussion.
Beyond the strictly penitentiary framework, the podcast also addresses themes that are directly or indirectly connected to the prison system, such as addiction, migration, poverty, prostitution, and social exclusion. These topics are explored through in-depth conversations with guests from different backgrounds, including former detainees, professionals, representatives of civil society, and experts.
True to its title, Kontrovers aims to be an open and nuanced space for discussion, addressing sensitive issues without simplification or ideological positioning.