Salem prison radio gives inmates voice and direction

An air of transformation has been sweeping through Salem Central Prison for over a year as an in-house FM radio station quietly reshapes daily life behind its high walls.

- HD Bureau

What began as an experiment in communication has evolved into a structured rehabilitation tool, offering inmates a platform for expression, learning and emotional regulation within one of the state’s largest correctional facilities. Launched in October 2024, the prison’s closed-circuit FM radio operates without an external frequency, ensuring broadcasts remain confined to the campus. Audio speakers fixed across all 19 blocks allow programmes to reach the entire inmate population as well as correctional staff. The station runs on a fixed daily schedule, blending music, educational segments, public service announcements and inmate-produced content designed to support behavioural change.