Just Throw Away the Key: The Hidden World of Prisons Behind Our True Crime Fascination"

Jamie Poljanac

This podcast tackles what happens AFTER your favorite true crime podcast ends. What are prisons like? What does working at a prison as a correctional officer or a teacher look like? What do all the weird acronyms mean? Is rehabilitation really possible? Learn more about these questions at "Just Throw Away the Key."

Episodes

  1. 06/14/2025

    Episode 1: Jails, Prisons, & Custody Levels, Oh My!

    "Just Throw Away the Key, the Hidden World of Prisons Behind Our True Crime Fascination" is the podcast where we talk about what happens after your favorite true crime podcast ends because there's so much left about what comes next, things that impact you and I in ways we sometimes are blind to. There are so many questions about prisons that aren't always easy to find the answer to. Have you ever wondered what prisoners do all day? What is it like to be a correctional officer? What about a teacher in a prison? How is it determined which prison inmates are sent to? Why do some prisoners only serve two thirds of their sentences or less behind bars? What the hell do all those acronyms and words mean? Like what the hell is a swamper? What's the bubble? Isn't MSUA college? What about an ICS or OSI? Of course, we can't handle all of that in one episode, but we will get there together, and I'm sure a whole lot further today. We're starting at the beginning. We're diving into the world of incarceration at the very start. Specifically the differences between jails and prisons, the distinctions between state and federal prisons and how custody levels work, particularly within Minnesota's correctional system. Whether you are curious about criminal justice reform. I'm curious about the prison that's located maybe over in the next town, or you simply wanna understand how the prison system works. This episode has got you covered, at least the basics.

    24 min
  • 1 Episode

About

This podcast tackles what happens AFTER your favorite true crime podcast ends. What are prisons like? What does working at a prison as a correctional officer or a teacher look like? What do all the weird acronyms mean? Is rehabilitation really possible? Learn more about these questions at "Just Throw Away the Key."

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