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US President Barack Obama made history when he became the first sitting president to visit a federal prison.
On Thursday, Obama went behind bars to talk to inmates and law enforcement officials about ways to overhaul the criminal justice system.
However, don’t worry… The US president was let out after speaking to six inmates.
US President Barack Obama visits the Federal Correctional Institution El Reno in Oklahoma, which houses 248 inmates. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The US president steps inside cell number 123, a 9x10 foot concrete room that houses three men. Inside, he saw three bunks, sink and a toilet with no seat, a wood night table holding books including a dictionary, and a few metal cabinets. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Obama also spoke to six inmates, all in for drug offences. Speaking to reporters, he said, “When they describe their youth and their childhood, these are young people who made mistakes that aren’t that different from the mistakes I made, and the mistakes that a lot of you guys made.” Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The prison tower that Obama visited was emptied out prior to his visit for the sake of security. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Obama, who was accompanied by Bureau of Prisons Director Charles Samuels, said that he wanted to improve the conditions at US prisons, which house 2.2 million prisoners, which is more men and women behind bars than the top 35 European countries combined. Photograph: @petesouza/Twitter
Obama visited Cell Block B at El Reno, which is a medium-security prison with a minimum-security satellite camp. Photograph: Whitehouse/Instagram
A Secret Service agent stands guard at prison before Obama’s visit. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters