{
  "id": 328473,
  "title": "Correctional officers struggle with suffocating 'prison smell' and more",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/correctional-officers-struggle-with-suffocating-prison-smell-and-more-328473",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T00:47:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260809/correctional-officers-struggle-with-suffocating-prison-smell-and-more"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent report, correctional officers at a detention center described the struggle to combat the persistent prison smell that clung to their bodies after long shifts. Senior officers admitted to showering multiple times and applying skin lotion to their hair, seemingly in an attempt to wash away the odor. The ritual-like behavior seemed to offer some relief, as older colleagues believed it helped in the process of eliminating the prison smell. One officer explained that the scent was a constant presence that most outsiders could not comprehend.",
  "summary": "Every time senior officers finished their shifts, they would take a shower and rub skin lotion into their hair. “What is that about? Did a nightclub open nearby? Are they getting ready to go there?” The same thing happened the next day, and the day after that. Leave work, shower, apply skin lotion to their hair. The behavior was repeated, and there was a certain order to it. It was almost like a…",
  "key_points": [
    "Correctional officers face persistent prison smell after long shifts",
    "Senior officers shower multiple times, apply skin lotion to combat odor",
    "Ritual-like behavior provides relief, helps eliminate prison smell"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The acknowledged persistence of the prison smell into officers' personal lives reveals the depth of its impact on their daily experiences and challenges the boundary between work and personal life.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Correctional officers struggle with suffocating 'prison smell' and more",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/correctional-officers-struggle-with-suffocating-prison-smell-and-more",
        "published": "2026-08-09T00:22:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}