Inside 70 Prison Cells From Around The World
By Nick Hadji
11 months ago
1. El Salvador - Penal De Ciusad Barrios
(Image Source/ Demilked)2. Russia - Black Dolphin
(Image Source/ Demilked)3. Spain - Aranjuez
4. Norway -Bastøy Prison
(Image Source/ architecturendesign)
In this picture we can see Bastøy Prison, Horten, Norway. It is a very large prison and has low security. it is managed by the community. Inside we can see that conditions here are not bad at all, in fact it has been branded by many around the world as comfortable if not luxurious in terms of a prison.5. Scotland - HMP Addiewell
(Image Source/ Demilked)This is HMP Addiewell, Lothian, Scotland. This prison is more about learning and rehabilitation. Rather than the focus being on punishment the idea is that the prisoners focus on the reasons behind why they committed the crime. They do activities, counselling and work as part of their programme.6. Japan - Onomichi Prison
(Image Source/ Demilked)Here is a look into the inside rooms at Onomichi Prison, Onomichi, Japan. Here, the prison is just for senior offenders. Due to the ageing population of Japan, elderly criminals are becoming more common. And so this prison is just for seniors who commit crime.7. Uganda - Luzira Prison
(Image Source/ architecturendesign)
In the Luzira Prison, Kampala, Uganda, the structure of the prison is more similar to a westernized prison for example of America or Britain. The prisoners are given more responsibility and the inmates are responisble for the peace to be kept within the prison.
8. Netherlands - Norgerhaven
(Image Source/ architecturendesign)In Norgerhaven Prison, Veenhuizen, Netherlands the crime rate is so low that they actually had an under-crowding problem. Unlike many places such as Britain who face the opposite problem. in fact they struck a deal with Norway to take some of their prisoners.9. San Diego - Cartagena
(Image Source/ Demilked)
Here is a picture of San Diego Medium-Security Women’s Prison, Cartagena, Colombia. It may look like a fairly relaxed environment for a prison, and that is because it is. This low security prison is often used for women nearing the end of their sentences. This is a restaurant run by inmates.
10. California - San Quentin
(Image Source. thetravel.com)This prison is located in the north of San Franciso, San Quentin in California. It is the oldest and largest prison in Californua, and not only California but the largest in the whole of the United States. It's one of the well known prisons as it has attracted a lot of attention. 11. Haiti's Civil Prison
(Image Source. thetravel.com)The living conditions in this prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti as we can see are very low. And, this picture at least shows beds because a lot of the time hammocks are suspended from the ceiling. Due to lack of resources, money and space some of the prisoners do not have enough to eat.12. Kabul - Pul-e-Charkhi
(Image Source. thetravel.com)This is a photo of the inside of Pul-e-Charkhi Prison just outside of Kabul. This prison is known for riots and prisoners having managed to escape on different occasions. It was also once known for being the prison to mainly hold members of the Taliban.13. United States -ADX Florence Prison
(Image Source. architecturendesign.com)
This prison is the ADX Florence prison, Colorado, United States. This faciility is secured and monitored way more than any standard prison. It is built for the criminals who are too dangerous to be in the normal system. And so surveillance here is constant, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
14. Germany - Landsberg Prison
(Image Source, thetravel.com)Here we can see inside a cell in Landsberg prison in Germany. This German Prison is widely known for housing one of the most evil men of all time - Adolf Hitler. Now, it is run by a different organisation method which is a progressive correctional facility.15. New Zealand - Otago Corrections Facility
(Image Source, thetravel.com)This is Otago Corrections Facility, Milburn, New Zealand. One look inside and you may assume this is a teenage boy's bedroom. But no, the inmates here are pretty lucky and live a comfortable and some even say luxurious life while they serve their sentences.16. Lilongwe Prison -Malawi
(Image Source, TheTravel)This picture is pretty shocking, and so far away from the previous prison situation in New Zealand. This is a prison in Lilongwe, Malawi. It was once built for around 800 people but the prison population got so big that this prison faces unbelievable overcrowding problems.17. Champdollan Prison - Switzerland
(Image Source, TheTravel)This is Champ-Dollon Prison in Geneva, Switzerland. When we compare this to the last photo the differences are incomprehensible. This prison looks spotlessly clean and the conditions look good. This prison is not only for the Swiss population and in fact only 7% of the inmates are from Switzerland.18. Detention And Rehabilitation Center - Philippines
(Image Source, TheTravel)If you thought that looked like an organised female prisoners dance class in the photo... then you would not be wrong. This prison is very unique in this way. To keep the prisoners engaged as well as doing their physical fitness the prison offers dance classes.19. Evin Prison - Iran
(Image Source, TheTravel)Evin Prison does not meet standards of an acceptable prison by any means. This is due to overcrowding and terrible sanitation and unliveable conditions. Even the water quality is awful and the food is barely edible, if they manage to get enough food as it is.20. Las Colinas Detention And Reentry Facility - California
(Image Source/ architecturendesign)Here we can see inside Las Colinas Detention And Reentry Facility, Santee, California. This prison was the first of its kind in the US and was fairly groundbreaking at the time it was built.Again, the aim is for the prisoners to be reintroduced not to stay in prison for even being punished.21. Robben Island - South Africa
(Image Source/ Colby College Community Web)Robben Island is a small island off the coast of Cape Town that has been used for a variety of reasons. It was originally used to isolate political prisoners at the end of the 17th century; the first settlers to employ it as a jail were Dutch, and served as a leper colony and an animal quarantine facility during the nineteenth century.22. Leoben Justice Center - Austria
(Image Source/ World Architects) Every prison isn't crazy because of brutal and inhumane living conditions. Designed in 2004 by Josef Hohensinn for groups of up to 13 people, the Justice Center at Leoben stands out from the crowd because it is a stunning piece of architecture and a beautiful jail.23. Devil's Island - French Guiana
(Image Source/ All That's Interesting)Devil's Island was included in the French penal colony for more than 100 years. Originally used as a leper colony, the space became used to house political prisoners and was one of the scariest prisons in the world. Most prisoners died due to the harsh conditions.24. Newgate Prison - England
(Image Source/ London Insight)Originally built by Henry II in 1188, Newgate Prison is a London based facility that was destroyed in the 1666 great fire of London, later rebuilt with sick additions. Prisoners were forced to watch public executions and punished if they didn't pay rent.25. La Sabeneta Prison - Venezuela
(Image Source/ Twitter)La Sabaneta Prison is one of the most lawluss and frightening prisons you could land in. While it's just designed for 700 prisoners, 3,700 are housed there due to lack of funding and understaffing. The prison is hugely overrun by bloodthirsty gangs.26. Gitarama Central Prison - Rwanda
(Image Source/ Newscrab)With 7,000 prisoners crammed into a space meant for 400, they have the choice to stand all day or huddle together when given the chance. The lack of space is the prison's biggest issue that started back in the 1990s. Prisoners have died due to suffocation.27. Camp 22 - North Korea
(Image Source/ Daily Mail)Given that it is cut off from the rest of the world, footage of North Korea's prison is hard to come by, and the prisoners face lifelong detention. Around 50,000 prisoners are housed here, mainly for criticizing their government. All prisoners must work and carry out physical tasks.28. Georgia Gldani Prison - Tbilisi
(Image Source/ Daily Mail)While poor medical care, unsanitary conditions and overcrowding are among its worst problems, this Tbilisi prison has more than that. Prisoners suffer at the hands of prison guards who beat and assault them in all sorts of ways. They were exposed during released footage in 2012.29. Peru San Juan de Lurigancho - Lima
(Image Source/ Anibal Martel)One of South America's harshest prisoners, there are barely any guards to control 11,500 inmates in a space designed for 2,500. Inmates here experiment with the latest technology of the black market, cockfighting and drugs. Occasionally, "nurses" and "attorneys" of their choice will visit.30. Black Beach Prison - Equatorial Guinea
(Image Source/ The Guardian)If you happen to end up in this facility, you would be subject to overcrowding, chronic disease, malnutrition, guard brutality and a lot of torture. It's also heard that there is a major rat infestation at this prison. Inmates here are subject to this violence and treatment everyday.31. Nairobi Prison - Kenya
(Image Source/ Progressive International)Opened in 1911, Nairobi Prison was originally intended to house 800 prisoners. With no expansion or change, the facility eventually housed more than 4,000 prisoners. In one prison cage with room for three people, twelve were actually subject to the space.32. Butyrka Prison - Russia
(Image Source/ The Moscow Times)Butyrka Prison falls within the Teverskoy District in Russia and originally housed political prisoners during its Soviet Period. However, with overcrowding now rife, a 10 man cell will hold up to 100 prisoners. Diseases, tuberculosis and AIDS are rampant within this facility.33. Diyarbakir Prison - Turkey
(Image Source/ Alchetron)Based in the South-eastern part of Turkey, this prison is notorious when it comes to human rights (or lack thereof). Opened in the 1980s, the conditions are so inhumane that even lawless criminals tried to change it. With hunger strikes, prisoners tried to demonstrate their suffering.34. El Rodeo Prison - Venezuela
(Image Source/ Sky News)Within this facility, 50,000 of Venezuela's more brutal criminals are homed and involved in rampant gang wars. The administration can only do so much here while brutality, violence and assault occur within the facility. The Armed Forces even offered to assist in the controlling of the prison.35. Penal de Ciudad Barrios Prison - El Salvador
(Image Source/ BBC)The main problem at this facility is the lack of prison guards. With the country's most notorious criminals housed here, you'd think that they would employ the most experienced prison guards too. The ratio of guards to prisoners is 1:50, therefore, prisoners are free to do as they wish.36. Mendoza Prison - Argentina
(Image Source/ The Guardian)In a space meant for 600 inhabitants, 1,600 are crammed into the living conditions. The prison is notorious for inhumane conditions, torture and death. Amnesty International recorded that inmates who enter that aren't yet sentenced come out worse than when they arrived.37. Rikers Island - NY, USA
(Image Source/ The New York Times)Inmates claim that the penitentiary here is worse than the roughest back streets of New York. City officials made the decision to make this the country's strictest prison and SWAT teams became in charge. They confiscate thousands of makeshift weapons, which brought down the violence rates.38. Tadmor Military Prison - Syria
(Image Source/ BBC)Located in the Syrian Desert, the facility was more infamous for torture, harsh conditions and summary executions. A poet within the prison declared the facility as a "kingdom of madness and death". A massacre once took place in 19802, where defence forced murdered a thousand inmates.39. La Santé Prison - France
(Image Source/ The Guardian)Prison Physician Vasseur wrote a book on the facility's disgusting conditions. Suicide and depression are rampant, with inmates choosing to drink drain killers and chemicals to relieve themselves of the torture. With 124 suicides in 1999 alone, and the situation has probably worsened.40. Carandiru Penitentiary - Brazil
(Image Source/ History Hit)This prison was shut down due to a massacre in 2002, which left 111 inmates dead after military police stormed the facility. The event exposed to the world the prison's harsh realities of the facility, with at least 1 in every 5 inmates having HIV and inmates undergoing surgery with no anaesthesia.41. Halden Prison, Norway
Image Source: Bored PandaThis maximum-security prison has three main units and receives prisoners from all over the world. It actually doesn’t have any conventional security devices, and instead focuses on rehabilitation, designed to simulate normal life outside the prison. Sport and music are available to the prisoners.42. Abashiri Prison, Japan
Image Source: Bored PandaInmates at this prison have their rooms inspected once a day, and all prisoners have a sentence of 8 years or less. It’s a very strict life here, but it does have a souvenir shop infront of the main gates that actually sells items made from the prisoners.43. Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines
Image Source: ArtfidoThis is a maximum-security prison – and if you’ve seen that viral dance video of Thriller choreographed by inmates, this is the prison responsible. It has inmates perform dance routines as part of their daily exercise and rehabilitation program, and many sequences are released online.44. Oslo’s Skien Prison, Oslo, Norway
Image Source: Bored PandaNorwegian prisons are actually supposed to mimic outside conditions as much as possible. With this in mind, this prison has private bathrooms, gym, yard, TV and video games. One inmate’s cell had three rooms, one for studying, one for living and one for exercise. That’s more than most people can say about their own homes.45. The Maula Prison, Lilongwe, Malawi
Image Source: PinterestThis prison is suffering from overcrowding, with around 200 people being placed in a 60-person cell in recent years. Prisoners must share one toilet between 120 people, and share one tap between 900 people. Prisoners are fed once a day, and they can play sports.46. UN Detention Unit, Outside The Hague, Netherlands
Image Source: RferlThis is a UN-administered jail, established in 1993, and now serves the International Criminal Court detention centre. The jail houses prisoners who are suspects in their trials, as well as those actually convicted by the court. Every cell has its own toilet and washing area, with access to a gym in the prison.47. Petak Island Prison, Vologda, Russia
Image Source: AllthatsinterestingThis prison is often nicknamed the ‘Alcatraz of Russia’. It holds the most dangerous criminals in the country. The prison has around 22 hour-a-day lockdowns, with every cell being a 2-man room. Prisoners are allowed 2 visitors a year, and the prison itself is surrounded by water.48. HM Prison Dartmoor, Princetown, England
Image Source: Bored PandaThis prison is home to mostly non-violent offenders, but also houses sex offenders. It has a ‘misplaced’ reputation as being an escape-proof prison. Some of the inmates volunteer for treatment to change their behaviour, alongside medication, due to its programmes that encourage prisoners to realise that their behaviour is unacceptable.49. Quezon City Jail, Quezon City, Philippines
Image Source: Bored PandaThis jail is housed in the capital of the Philippines, and its prisoners will see struggles for water and food, as well as space to move. It has up to 200 prisoners placed into a cell built to house 20 people. Prisoners have to take turns to sleep on the cement floor of an open-air basketball court.50. El Buen Pastor Women’s Prison, Bogota, Colombia
Image Source: ABCThis prison in Colombia is a women’s prison that originally had cells designed to hold 2 people only – now, there can be up to 20 women inside one of these cells. Even though the conditions within the prison are described as violent and hostile, it does hold annual beauty pageants.51. Pelican Bay State Prison, Crescent City, California
Image Source: Bored PandaThis prison’s purpose is said to be housing the ‘worst of the worst’ in terms of male prisoners showing violence. A lot of these prisoners are serving life sentences in this jail, all with histories of violence, which includes at other prisons leading them to be transferred to Pelican Bay.52. San Pedro Prison, La Paz, Bolivia
Image Source: Architectural ReviewIn this prison, the guards are police officers whose only concern is keeping the inmates in the prison. Order is kept sometimes by means as violent as stabbing. Cells can be bought by other inmates, and the wealthiest of the prisoners have cells with private bathrooms, kitchens and even cable television.53. Neve Tirza, Ramla, Israel
Image Source: Bored PandaThis prison is a women’s-only prison, with cells that are around 13 square meters. The cells include a toilet and a shower. Every one of these cells contains around 6 women, and they often have to share space to sleep in these very cramped conditions.54. Bordeaux Prison, Montreal, Canada
Image Source: National PostBordeaux Prison in Montreal, Canada, was built between the years of 1908 to 1912, and today it is responsible for housing from 1,000 up to 1,500 inmates. All inmates are male, and they will have sentences of 2 years or less to be in this particular prison.55. Altiplano Prison, Almoloya De Juarez, Mexico
Image Source: TimeThis prison is a maximum-security federal prison, with walls that are close to 1 meter thick, and due to all of this was once considered impenetrable until a prisoner managed to escape through a tunnel in 2015. The air space in the prison is also said to be restricted, with cell reception limited.56. Kashimpur Central Jail, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Image Source: Business InsiderIn this jail in Bangladesh, there are around 2,000 inmates, and it is actually the biggest prison in all of Asia. All current prisoners of this prison are male. The prison includes a hospital, 4 kitchens, a gallows, a pond area and even fruit and vegetables in a jail garden.57. The Federal Correctional Institution, El Reno, Oklahoma
Image Source: Bored PandaThis Federal Correctional Institution located in El Reno, Oklahoma, is a facility that has medium security. Its inmate count is around 1,000 prisoners, all of which are male. The prison is actually one of two farm facilities which remain in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.58. Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa Penitentiary, Manaus, Brazil
Image Source: The GuardianThe Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa Penitentiary based in Brazil is an extremely dangerous prison based on the uprising its had in the past. The inmates of this prison may face death from other inmates, as four people were killed in a previous uprising in the prison.59. Bang Kwang Prison, Bangkok, Thailand
Image Source: Bangkok PostThis prison has been given the nickname the ‘Bangkok Hilton’, but is a prison nothing like this name might suggest. It’s a very overcrowded facility, at maximum-security, and holds both local and foreign inmates. Its unfair sentencing and reports of abuse make it known for being one of the worst prisons.60. JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, Germany
Image Source: Scoop WhoopThis prison in Hamberg, Germany, is home to long-serving prisoners who have more luxuries than some other prisons in the world. The cells themselves have a lot of space, which could be considered luxury enough, but prisoners can also enjoy a couch and private shower, too.61. Sollentuna Prison, Sweden
Image Source: Scoop WhoopThis facility is a correctional prison in Sweden which provides its inmates with private cells. In these cells is a comfortable bed, as well as a separate bathroom attached. The prisoners also have access to a modern gym, as well as a kitchen available for use. A recreation room is also provided.62. Pondok Bambu Prison, Indonesia
Image Source: Vice.comYou might mistake this women’s-only prison for a modern studio apartment. This facility, with prisoners living what could be labelled ‘luxurious’, is fully equipped with everything you’d need. This includes refrigerators and even recreational items like a karaoke machine and a nail salon.63. Maison D’Arret de Bois-D’Arcy
Image Source: ViceThis prison opened when originally planned to be a detention center. It opened in 1980 as a remand center. It used to have a first floor unit for minors which is now closed. It was later made into a penal center, but has suffered prisoner death, including a mattress which was set on fire by another inmate.64. Calhoun County Jail, Morgan, California
Image Source: ViceThis facility is a secure prison in California that houses inmates who may be awaiting their trial or final sentencing. Some of the inmates may also be serving their sentence after being officially convicted of a crime. The Calhoun County Jail also makes many records available to the public in regard to the prisoners’ criminal records.65. Mutukula Prison Farm, Uganda
Image Source: ViceThis low security prison in Uganda is small by many of the world’s prison standards, with around 60 inmates, all of which are men. There is no opportunity of remand at this prison farm. Those prisoners coming to the end of their sentence will be taught agricultural work.66. Kirinya Main Prison, Jinja, Uganda
Image Source: ViceThis is Uganda’s second maximum security prison in Uganda. Its prisoners include criminals on death row, and these prisoners on death row can also have opportunity to teach other inmates in a classroom setting, such as death row inmates giving biology lessons.67. Establecimiento Carcelario de Reclusin Especial, Colombia
Image Source: ViceThis prison houses over 100 inmates, which might be considered small, but this is actually over its official capacity of 50. Back in the 40s, the prison had a sanitorium which was intended to provide care for those inmates suffering from TBC disease. This space is now used for those prisoners needing minimum security.68. Georgia State Prison, USA
Image Source: ViceThis prison contained male inmates convicted of a life sentence. It was a maximum security facility which served the Georgia Department of Corrections. This prison, after first opening in 1938, actually housed some of the most dangerous criminals in the history of the state. It was also the location of Georgia’s death row.69. Centre Penitentiaire de Lille-Annoeullin Prison, France
Image Source: ViceThis prison in France is home to a courtyard where inmates are permitted to sunbathe. Some inmates include known gang members, some of which were already serving sentences which were extended following further crimes. One gang member managed to even extort nightclubs – from his cell.70. Attica Correctional Facility, New York
Image Source: Buffalo NewsThis facility is a maximum-security prison based in New York, and has actually been party to more than one riot in its time. One of the worst was when 42 staff members were actually taken hostage by over 2000 inmates, in response to their appalling conditions. This prison is home to some of the most dangerous criminals in New York State.71. Danli Prison - Honduras
Image Source: The MirrorThis is not a prison where the weak survive. In fact the very toughest inmates are used and are armed to act as enforcers of the prison in order to compensate for the overwhelmed guards who cannot control the rising numbers of the prison. Lines between inmate and enforcer here are very blurred.72. Piotrków Prison - Poland
Image Source: The MirrorAgin, conditions here are extremely hostile. The prisoners have to stay inside of their cells for 23 hours every day. They are let out for one hour which is not so unusual for a prison but when they are inside the prison experience is claustrophobic and cramped.73. El Hongo - Mexico
Image Source: ReutersPrisons in Mexico have a reputation for a reason, they are very hard environments and only those people that are tough enough can survive the time inside. The inmates have done some extremely terrible things and fights often break out here as well as inmate violence.74. Porto Velho - Brazil
Image Source: avaznews
75. Zhytomyr - Ukraine
Image Source: The New York TimesInside Zhytomyr is it a totally hostile place, there is a skeleton crew in charge of enforcing the prison rules and order amongst inmates. The prisoners are able to wander freely around the grounds, and more often than not they are armed with potentially dangerous weapons.76. Bomana - Papa New Guinea
Image Source: BBCBomana is a prison located in Papa New Guinea and it is known for its terrible conditions. It is constantly on the bring of chaos as the prisoners riot. Food shortages are a daily challenge here and conditions are totally squalid and pretty much unliveable.77. Belize Central Prison - Belize
Image Source: Amu EdgeBelize Central Prison is located in Belize. It is different from many other prisons on the list due to its prioritising of rehabilitation through the power of God. That's not to say that the conditions and the inside of the prison are any better however.78. La Reforma - Costa Rica
Image Source: Costa RicaLa Reforma prison in Costa Rica is a huge facility with 3 separate divisions to it; a maximum security, medium and low security wings. For the maximum security side of prison it's a very depressing place to be and it hols some very dangerous prisoners here.79. Narco - Colombia
Image Source: IMDbNarco prison in Colombia has a huge problem: it is rife with drugs. The institution is searched frequently not only by the prison itself but also outside authorities, to try and keep the drug crimes down. Yet, it doesn't seem to work and this prison is notorious.80. Tacumbú - Paraguay
Image Source: The MirrorTacumbú has also previously been called one of the most dangerous places in the world. In fact, in order to survive her and pay their own way prisoners search through the trash. Crime, drugs and riots here are just a apart and parcel of live surviving in one of the world's scariest prisons.