Where is the most comfortable prison in the world and other strange facts about correctional colonies from around the world?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Presumably, prisons are built to punish and rehabilitate criminals. It turns out that this is not always the case. In corrupt countries, only poor prisoners are really punished "to the fullest." The wealthier simply live in fully furnished, air-conditioned cells with televisions, cell phones, microwaves, jacuzzis and women of easy virtue. In most cases, these criminals can still run their businesses from prison. And prisons like these actually contribute to crime and make prisoners more violent.

1. Prison of San Pedro. Bolivia

San Pedro Prison in La Paz, Bolivia is considered one of the strangest correctional facilities in the world, and it's not hard to see why. The prison is run by inmates. They run restaurants, shops and even a brothel and cocaine factory right inside the "correctional facility." The cocaine trade is not surprising, because many prisoners have been convicted for the production and distribution of cocaine. New prisoners have to pay for their cell. Otherwise, they will sleep outside the cell, which is as dangerous as sleeping on the streets. Wealthier prisoners pay for a “full” cell and may even bring their families into it to live with them.

Cameras, like hotels, are classified as three, four and five stars, depending on the conditions in them. On average, 1 camera costs about $ 1100. Inmates also need to pay a $ 270 fee. The guards in the prison are very corrupt and often allow visitors to smuggle cocaine out of the prison in exchange for a bribe. Also, corrupt guards allowed tourists to visit prisons until such "tours" were banned by the government.

2. Prison of San Pedro Sula. Honduras

The prisons of San Pedro Sula in Honduras and San Pedro in Bolivia have much more in common than just a name. Both are overcrowded, dangerous and run by prisoners. In San Pedro Sula Prison, inmates own shops that sell everything from fruits to shirts, alcohol, Coca-Cola and iPhones. There is even a local brothel. Some inmates live in the prison with their families, while others even raise cattle there. Prisoners pay for their cells. A regular camera costs 1,000 lempires ($ 41), while the most expensive "five-star" cameras cost 15,000 lempires ($ 615). Most of the inmates have keys (or at least lockpicks) to their cells, but they intend to use them only for rescue in the event of a fire. The guards usually do not interfere in the affairs of prisoners, and vice versa. There is even a de la muerte (death line) dividing line in the prison - a yellow line that separates the guards 'area from the prisoners' area. The guards and inmates simply never cross the line or go to the opposite side. Other correctional facilities in Honduras have similar measures. Also, violent massacres take place regularly in local prisons. In one clash, prison governor Mario Henriquez and 13 warders were killed. Enriquez was accused of mistreating prisoners, but the carnage began after Enriquez increased the prison fee and the price of goods in the prison. He was fed to dogs, and the bodies of the guards were burned. Only three weeks later did the authorities regain control of the prison.

3. Prison of La Mesa. Mexico

La Mesa Prison was the most famous prison in Mexico until it was demolished by President Vicente Fox. In fact, this correctional facility, located in Tijuana, was a city in itself. At one time, people could not distinguish between the prison and Tijuana itself, so they called it "El Pueblito" ("Small town"). The volume of trade in La Mesa was about 1.3 million pounds per year. As in similar "gang prisons", La Mesa was rife with restaurants, brothels and drugs. The inmates paid for their cells, with some unfastening £ 16,000 to create a new, well-furnished cell built specifically for them. These cells had tiled bathrooms with jacuzzis installed, as well as cell phones, DVD players, microwaves, computers and air conditioners. The richer prisoners usually "settled" with their families, maids and cooks, and crime bosses even with bodyguards. However, all 6,700 inmates were moved to other prisons after the facility was demolished.

4. Prison Bastoy. Norway

Bastoy Prison is one of the coolest correctional institutions. It is said to be "the most beautiful prison in the world." Inmates here do not live in cells, but in houses. Each prisoner has his own room, although often several people share a kitchen. Inmates also receive $ 90 each month in allowance and can earn more money working on-site. The prisoners are fed once a day, and the rest of the food they have to buy and cook themselves. Only 5 guards remain in the prison overnight. Only 16 percent of prisoners leaving Bastoy return to criminal activity (in Norway, the average is 30 percent). Elsewhere in the European Union, 70 percent of former prisoners are back on a curve.

5. Prison of Acapulco. Mexico

Acapulco has one of the most infamous prisons in Mexico. Located in Guerrero, one of the most lawless states in the country, Acapulco has been named one of the murder capitals in the world. In 2017, 28 prisoners were killed in a bloody massacre. In order to calm him down, local special forces were called in and found bodies scattered throughout the prison. In 2011, a surprise raid revealed 2 bags of marijuana, 2 domestic peacocks, 100 fighting cocks, flat-screen TVs, alcohol and 19 prostitutes right in the prison. Some female prisoners were also found inside the male wing of the institution. The police weren't really particularly surprised by what they found. The prisons in Mexico are underfunded and it is common for inmates to bring their own belongings. Prisoners often bribe guards to smuggle illegal items into the prison grounds. In another prison in Sonora State, a raid revealed air conditioners, DVD players and refrigerators in the cells.

6. Aranjuez Prison. Spain

Aranjuez Prison was built for prisoners with families with small children. The idea is to allow prisoners to interact with their young children. Prisoners receive cells with Disney characters on the walls, lots of toys and cribs. The prison also has a children's school. Prisoners and their children are allowed to move freely around the facility until all doors are closed at night. When the child turns three, the prisoners must hand the child over to a relative, after which they return to the "regular" prison. Nevertheless, some prisoners use this trick and give birth to another child during these 3 years.

7. Prison Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts (APAC). Brazil

The Prison of the Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts (APAC) is one of the most unusual correctional facilities in Brazil. Ordinary Brazilian prisons are run by gangs and are often released "worse" after them than before the correctional institution. However, the APAC prison in Itaun, the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, is designed specifically for the rehabilitation of prisoners. That is why there are no guards at the facility. The inmates wear normal clothes as if they were at home. They also have the keys to their cells and even the entire prison. Some are even allowed to leave the prison one day a week to visit their families. In return for better living conditions, prisoners must work, study and behave. Otherwise, they are returned to regular prisons.

8. Halden Prison. Norway

Halden Prison is another unusual prison in Norway. This is a maximum security prison, although it doesn't look like one. It is called "the most humane prison in the world." Cells are rooms that have a comfortable bed, desk, chair, and wardrobe. They also have windows and doors are made of wood instead of metal. The inmates prepare their own meals and eat with metal cutlery instead of plastic utensils. They also have access to movies, video games, basketball courts, a gym, and a recording studio. The prison has no guard towers, and some of the guards don't even have firearms. However, the prison is full of murderers, rapists and drug smugglers. If prisoners do not follow the prison rules and do not attend classes and counseling, they are sent to a regular prison.

9. Iwahig prison. Philippines

Iwahig Prison is classified as an “open-air prison” because it has no walls. Moreover, its area is 26,000 hectares, which is more than twice the size of Paris. There is a prison farm inside the facility, where all inmates work. They are taught a new profession during their stay, and some are even allowed to live with their families inside the prison. There is only one guard at the gate. It allows visitors and tourists to enter the prison freely. They can buy fast food that prisoners prepare and sell. Although the facility is largely considered successful, there have been escapes and allegations of corruption by prison guards.

10. Prison of Palmasola. Bolivia

Palmasola Prison is one of the most dangerous prisons in Bolivia. This correctional facility actually creates criminals instead of rehabilitating them. The police officers guarding the facility only allow prisoners to bring anything into the prison after receiving a bribe. As in other "lawless" prisons, inmates own things like televisions, prostitutes, and pay for their cells. A personal camera sells for $ 3,000 - $ 7,000, and a rented camera sells for $ 250 a month. The "store" in the prison sells for $ 13,000. Palmasola has several restaurants and internet cafes. Corrupt police officers guarding the prison receive bribes of $ 20,000 a day. Most of this money goes to their bosses. Bloody massacres are not uncommon in the prison. In August 2013, 32 prisoners were killed and another 70 were injured in a brutal massacre, during which prisoners used gas cans as flamethrowers.