Prisons are designed to maintain order and enforce justice, but in some countries, they have become harrowing environments plagued by violence, overcrowding, and harsh conditions.
This article explores the 11 most dangerous prisons globally, where survival depends on sheer resilience. These prisons reveal the grim realities of life behind bars in the world’s most brutal detention centers.
1. La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela
This prison is located in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. By many standards, it is considered one of the most brutal jails in Latin America, with severe overcrowding and limited funding, which makes maintaining order nearly impossible.
In La Sabaneta, violent gangs dominate, turning the prison into a lawless and dangerous place.
2. Black Dolphin Prison, Russia
Situated near the Kazakhstan border in Russia, it has become one of the world’s most notorious prisons. It houses some of the country’s most dangerous criminals. Upon arrival, inmates are subjected to blindfolding and handcuffing to prevent them from mapping out the prison layout, thus minimizing their chances of escape.
3. Gitarama Central Prison, Rwanda
Gitarama Central Prison in Rwanda stands out as a nightmarish prison globally, primarily due to its staggering levels of overcrowding. Gitarama’s lack of space translates into a loss of discipline, health, and life. It’s a place where human suffering knows no bounds, and the cruelty of the conditions makes it even more harsh for inmates.
4. Camp 22, North Korea
Camp 22 in North Korea is a horrifying political prison globally, characterized by its extreme isolation and brutal treatment of inmates. Once inside, inmates bear unimaginable suffering, living in near-starvation conditions and facing constant brutality. They’re forced to perform exhausting physical tasks using primitive tools, adding to their misery.
Read Also: 10 most luxurious prisons in the world
5. Gldani Prison, Georgia
Gldani Prison in Georgia stands out as the fifth most horrific correctional facility in the world. While fights among inmates are very common in many prisons, Gldani takes brutality to a whole new level. Instead of maintaining order, the guards themselves engage in torture, assaults, and even rapes against helpless prisoners.
6. San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru
San Juan de Lurigancho prison in Peru is also one of the most notorious correctional facilities worldwide. Instead of rehabilitation, inmates spend their days engaging in illicit activities like playing with black-market technology, participating in cockfighting, and dealing drugs.
7. Bang Kwang, Thailand
The prison is located in the Thai capital. With a great deal of irony, this correctional facility is sometimes nicknamed the Bangkok Hilton, but there is nothing luxurious about it. Instead, it is considered as one of the worst prisons in Thailand.
It is important to note that foreign prisoners, usually incarcerated for smuggling, have an even harder time in Bang Kwang than the locals.
8. Nairobi Prison, Kenya
In Nairobi Prison, disease, systemic abuse, and violence run within its walls, increasing the already hopeless situation. This prison is a place where suffering is the norm, where survival is a daily struggle, and where hope seems like an unapproachable dream.
9. Diyarbakir Prison, Turkey
Situated in the Southeastern region of the nation, this prison is referred to as hell on earth. The interior circumstances are incredibly horrible and shockingly cruel.
Prisoners are noted for engaging in hunger strikes and even committing.
10. Mendoza Prison, Argentina
Argentina’s Mendoza Prison is associated with unimaginable horrors: it is a place where humiliating treatment, torture, and death are common.
Prison guards here also contribute to the suffering of inmates as they are known for their violence not only against inmates but also against their families.
11. Rikers Island, New York
New York’s Rikers Island is known for being one of the world’s most deadly prisons. Violence among inmates is a common phenomenon here. Brutality is pervasive, and the safety and well-being of inmates are often disregarded.
This list of the worst prisons of all time reveals the reality of inhumane conditions, violence, and systemic failures within the global prison system. Each facility represents a dark chapter in the treatment of inmates.
