Dec 28, 2023, 09:18 PM IST

10 most notorious prisons in the world

Shweta Singh

Alcatraz, "The Rock," isolated in San Francisco Bay, housed notorious criminals like Al Capone and "Machine Gun" Kelly, known for its inescapable reputation, sealed by the 1962 daring escape attempt of Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers.

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, USA

Rikers Island, NYC's vast correctional complex, housed Tupac Shakur and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, spotlighting high-profile inmates amid systemic violence and contentious debates about its future due to inhumane conditions and legal challenges.

Rikers Island, USA

Guantanamo Bay, a US military prison in Cuba, detains individuals without trial, sparking global outrage over prolonged detention and alleged use of enhanced interrogation techniques, igniting debates on human rights and civil liberties.

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

El Hongo Prison in Mexico embodies chaos with overcrowding, violence, and frequent unrest, highlighting systemic issues in the country's correctional system and underscoring the urgent call for reforms to ensure safety for inmates and staff.

El Hongo Prison, Mexico

La Sabaneta Prison in Venezuela is notorious in South America for its dire, overcrowded, and violence-ridden conditions, emblematic of the systemic failures in the country's prison system, highlighting human rights abuses and the government's inaction.

La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela

Bang Kwang Central Prison in Thailand, known as the "Bangkok Hilton," is infamous for its severe treatment of inmates, featuring brutal conditions and a chilling death row, serving as a stark symbol of harsh punishment within global correctional facilities.

Bang Kwang Central Prison, Thailand

Tadmor Prison in Syria, infamous for its brutal treatment of political prisoners, notably witnessed a 1980 massacre where thousands were killed in a government crackdown, epitomizing its history of torture, inhumanity, and blatant disregard for human rights within its walls.

Tadmor Prison, Syria

Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea, notorious for torture and inhumane treatment, symbolizes a house of horrors with overcrowding, brutality, and human rights abuses, emphasizing the pressing need for prison reform.

Black Beach Prison, Equatorial Guinea

San Pedro Prison in Bolivia offers a distinct self-governance system, allowing inmates to live with families and run businesses, presenting an unconventional prison model with complexities including drug trade and unique inmate rule.

San Pedro Prison, Bolivia