The History channel’s Prison Chronicles looks into the dark and brutal history of Devil’s Island, a notorious French penal colony located in French Guiana. The episode airs on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 10:33 p.m., revealing the harsh realities of this infamous prison.
Devil’s Island gained a reputation for its harsh treatment of detainees, with a death rate as high as 75%. The episode explores how, for a century, France sent prisoners to this remote island to vanish them from society. Among them was Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a military officer wrongfully convicted of espionage.
The prison was part of a larger system of labor camps and facilities on the mainland, collectively known for their cruel and deadly conditions. Over 80,000 prisoners were sent to this colony, where many perished due to disease and the harsh environment.
The episode also examines the impact of a book that exposed the grim realities of Devil’s Island, ultimately leading to its closure, along with associated prisons, by 1953. While Devil’s Island itself remains inaccessible, the surrounding islands now house museums that preserve the memory of this dark chapter in penal history.
Prison Chronicles: Devil’s Island airs on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 10:33 p.m. on the History channel.
