22 of the Worst Prisons in the World

With a population roughly three times its capacity (as of 2021), Mendoza Prison in Argentina is severely overcrowded. As many as five inmates are crowded into cells that measure only 51 square feet (4.7 square meters), and many inmates are forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses.

Amnesty International reported on the conditions back in 2005, alerting that "people imprisoned in Mendoza are in such a desperate situation that they have gone as far as to sew their mouths up in demand of better living conditions." The conditions at that time were so dire, they included torture and in some cases even death to inmates.

Prisoners had inadequate medical care, and the prison lacked a proper sewage system, forcing inmates no other choice but to use plastic bags and bottles as their washrooms.

La Modelo Prison, located in Bogotá, Colombia, is notorious for its violent environment and high levels of gang influence.

The facility has a long history of overcrowding and inadequate state control, which has led to riots and frequent clashes between rival factions. Corruption among guards has allowed weapons and drugs to flow into the prison, exacerbating the violence. Inmates live in squalid conditions, with limited access to healthcare and basic services.

La Modelo has become a symbol of the broader challenges facing Colombia’s prison system, where overcrowding, gang control and corruption remain pervasive issues. Despite attempts to reform the facility, the prison remains one of the most dangerous in the country.

Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, situated within a U.S. naval base in southeastern Cuba, is one of the most controversial detention facilities in the world.

Established in 2002 to detain suspected terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11, it has faced intense criticism for its use of indefinite detention without trial and enhanced interrogation techniques, which human rights groups have labeled as torture. Over the years, reports of waterboarding, sleep deprivation and psychological abuse have emerged.

Detainees have been held in prolonged isolation, often without being formally charged, leading to international calls for the facility’s closure. Although its population has significantly decreased, Guantanamo remains open, symbolizing a contentious chapter in the global fight against terrorism.

Ciudad Barrios Prison is located in the eastern part of El Salvador and is notorious for its overcrowded conditions and violent environment.

The facility is primarily known for holding members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, one of the most violent criminal organizations in the world. Inside the prison, MS-13 members often hold significant control, leading to an atmosphere where violence and intimidation are commonplace.

Prisoners live in cramped quarters, with many facilities operating well above capacity, leading to a lack of basic necessities such as clean water, proper sanitation and medical care. Despite occasional government crackdowns, the prison remains a dangerous place, reflecting the broader challenges El Salvador faces with gang violence and prison reform.

Black Beach Prison, located on Bioko Island in Equatorial Guinea, is widely considered one of the harshest prisons in the world. It has long been associated with human rights abuses, including routine torture, malnutrition and poor sanitation. Political prisoners are often detained here under brutal conditions, facing overcrowded cells and constant surveillance.

The prison gained international notoriety during the regime of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, when allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings within the prison walls became public. Inmates report living in squalid conditions with little access to fresh water or medical care.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the facility, urging reforms to address its severe conditions, but little has changed over the years.

Le Santé Prison, located in Paris, has a long history dating back to the 19th century and is known for its rigid conditions and notorious high-profile inmates.

The prison’s overcrowded cells and outdated facilities have been a persistent issue. A lack of proper ventilation and minimal access to natural light contribute to the difficulties prisoners face. Inmates experience strict regimentation and intense surveillance, with limited opportunities for rehabilitation.

Le Santé has been criticized for its poor healthcare services, which have contributed to several inmate deaths over the years. Recent reforms have aimed to modernize the prison and improve living conditions, but it remains a symbol of the challenges facing France’s correctional system.

A 2012 scandal at Gldani Prison, located in Tbilisi, Georgia, called international attention to the country's practice of prisoner torture at the hands of guards.

Numerous abuses, including rape and assault, were revealed in video filmed by a 35-year-old former prison-guard-turned-whistleblower. The videos sparked major protests across the country, and inspired actual reform in how inmates there are treated.

Though conditions in the country's prisons have improved in the past decade, Gldani Prison is in the spotlight once again as the site of protests sparked by the imprisonment of the country's former president, Mikheil Saakashvili.

Though various groups of protestors are both in favor of and against Saakashvili's release, the situation is calling attention to the facility's notoriety and reputation.

Mumbai Central Jail, commonly known as Arthur Road Jail, is the oldest and largest prison in Mumbai, India. Originally built in 1926, the facility has long struggled with overcrowding, holding more than double its intended capacity.

Inmates frequently face unsanitary conditions, limited access to clean water and poor ventilation. The prison has housed many high-profile criminals and terror suspects, which has led to tight security measures and a highly controlled environment.

However, the living conditions have drawn criticism from human rights groups, who cite inadequate healthcare and insufficient opportunities for rehabilitation. Despite attempts to modernize the facility, Mumbai Central Jail remains emblematic of the challenges faced by India’s overcrowded and underfunded prison system.

Kenya is notorious for tough conditions in its prisons and Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, located in Roysambu Constituency, is widely regarded as the worst.

It was built in 1954 by the British and modeled after an old-style colonial system to house offenders during a state of emergency declared in October 1952. Kamiti still has its original gallows, though the last execution there was in 1987.

It is notoriously overcrowded and the conditions are unsanitary — the prison's capacity is approximately 1,200 to 1,400, though reports suggest there are between 1,800 and 2,500 inmates crammed inside. Serious health conditions, including HIV and AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, tuberculosis and dysentery are rampant.

Though Kamiti was already well-known for housing political prisoners and executions by hanging, its infamy grew in 2008, when a riot sparked by a contraband search was captured on cellphone and shown on television.

It made headlines again in 2021 when three convicted terror suspects escaped. Seven wardens were later arrested for helping aid their escape.

Near the middle of North Korea is a 60-square-mile (155-square-kilometer) prison facility known both as Camp 14 and as Kacheon. According to reports by the U.S. Department of State, Camp 14 was built in 1959 near the center of the country, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Pyongyang.

Camp 14 is considered a political prison camp and can hold 15,000 prisoners. That means they are serving life sentences for being "enemies of the state." Inmates here are routinely starved, and forced into slave labor in mining, textiles and farming.

Camp 14 also employs a policy known as "three generations of punishment," which means many prisoners are there for merely being related to someone suspected of a crime — and they'll likely will die there without ever committing a crime themselves.

Black Dolphin Prison (aka penal colony No. 6) is located near Russia's border with Kazakhstan. It's reserved for the country's most dangerous and violent convicted criminals, including serial killers, cannibals, pedophiles and Chechen terrorists.

It is named for the dolphin sculpture created by the inmates that sits on the grass at the front of the prison reception.

Prisoners here are watched 24 hours a day via video surveillance, and guards make rounds every 15 minutes. Two inmates are assigned to each 50-square-foot (4.6 square-meter) cell that is behind three sets of steel doors to keep it extra-isolated from guards and other inmates.

Prisoners are allowed outside their cells for only 90 minutes per day in a barren concrete exercise yard. If they're moved anywhere within the facility, they're cuffed, blindfolded and forced to walk bent over so they can't learn the prison's layout, interact with other prisoners or overpower the guards.

This practice is allegedly unique to Black Dolphin.

Butyrka Prison, located in Moscow, is one of Russia’s oldest and most infamous correctional facilities. Built in the 19th century, it has a long history of overcrowding, substandard conditions and violence. Initially a pre-trial detention center, Butyrka often houses detainees awaiting trial for extended periods, leading to reports of excessive pre-trial detention without adequate legal support.

The cells are typically cramped and poorly ventilated, and there are frequent reports of diseases spreading due to unsanitary conditions. Inmates have described it as a psychologically taxing environment, with limited opportunities for recreation or rehabilitation.

The prison has been a symbol of Russia’s historically harsh penal system and continues to face criticism from human rights organizations.

Vladimir Central Prison, located northeast of Moscow, is one of Russia’s most well-known penitentiaries. Established in the 18th century, it has a long history of housing political prisoners, including Soviet dissidents and writers.

Conditions at Vladimir Central have been consistently harsh, with inmates facing poor sanitation, overcrowded cells and limited medical care. In the past, the prison has been a site for punitive labor and forced confessions.

Despite some modernization efforts, it remains a symbol of Russia’s historically repressive penal system. Reports of abuse, neglect and the mistreatment of inmates continue to surface, highlighting the ongoing challenges within the Russian prison system.

As Gitarama, the prison was home to more than 7,000 prisoners in a facility that was built to hold only 400. Most of the inmates were suspects of the Rwandan genocide that took place in 1994.

Given the extreme overcrowding, the men and women housed were forced to stand barefoot on the filthy ground for all hours of the day, causing their feet to rot. Many eventually required amputations, but with only one full-time doctor dedicated to the prison, most prisoners were unable to receive the treatment they need, resulting in half a dozen deaths each day.

In recent years, the establishment has been rebranded as Muhanga Correctional Facility. There has been an emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration into society, with programs aimed at vocational training, agriculture and psychological support. However, the prison’s infrastructure remains under strain due to the large inmate population, and many detainees face difficult living conditions.

Despite these challenges, Muhanga is seen as part of Rwanda’s broader effort to transform its justice system in the aftermath of the genocide, with a focus on reconciliation and rehabilitation.

Bang Kwang Central Prison, located just north of Bangkok, is notorious for its harsh conditions and high-security measures. Known as the “Bangkok Hilton,” this prison is where many inmates serve life sentences or are on death row, often for drug-related crimes.

Foreign inmates are common here, and language barriers compound the isolation. The conditions are notoriously rough; prisoners receive minimal food rations, sometimes consisting only of rice and soup. In 2013, the prison finally ended its practice of shackling inmates.

There is limited access to medical care, and mental health support is almost nonexistent. The overcrowded facility holds far more inmates than its intended capacity, creating an environment rife with psychological and physical stress.

Despite some reforms, Bang Kwang remains a symbol of the harsh penalties and difficult prison conditions in Thailand.

Diyarbakir Prison was built in 1980 by the Ministry of Justice in Türkiye. After the Sept. 12, 1980, Turkish coup d'état, Diyarbakir became a martial law military prison where torture was a common tool for forced assimilation of the Kurds.

A total of 650,000 people were detained after the September coup, and most were beaten or tortured. More than 500 died — many of those at Diyarbakir. During the "the period of barbarity," which refers to the early and mid-1980s when Diyarbakır was newly built, prisoners there were subjected to horrific acts of systematic torture.

Though rarely confirmed by superiors, hundreds of testimonies from former Diyarbakir inmates have told of physical and mental abuse; sleep, sensory, water and food deprivation; "Palestinian hangings" (hanging by the arms); mock executions; electric shocks to genitals; extraction of nails and healthy teeth; rape or threat of rape; and worse.

These abuses to Kurdish prisoners fueled the rise of the Kurdistan Workers' party, or PKK, which still fights against the Turkish state. Today Diyarbakir is still a working prison and is known for its significant number of human rights violations per inmate.

In 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced it would be turned into a cultural center, to mixed reviews.

HM Prison Belmarsh is a Category A facility in southeast London and is often referred to as “Britain’s Guantanamo” due to its high-profile inmates and strict security protocols.

The prison primarily houses dangerous criminals and terrorism suspects. It has a reputation for its tight security and heavy use of solitary confinement, with many inmates spending long periods isolated from others.

Despite these strict measures, Belmarsh offers several rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing reoffending rates, including vocational training and educational opportunities. Human rights groups have expressed concerns about the prison’s use of solitary confinement and the psychological impact on detainees, particularly those held for extended periods.

The official name is United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility, but it's also known as ADX Florence, Florence ADX, Supermax and the Alcatraz of the Rockies. This is the most maximum-security prison in the United States.

Built in 1994, this facility has housed some of the world's most dangerous criminals, including Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), Ramzi Yousef (responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing) and Zacarias Moussaoui (involved in the 9/11 attacks).

Inmates at this facility spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in their 7-by-12-foot (2-by-3.6-meter) concrete cells. Windows are tiny, and prisoners get their meals through small slots in the cells' metal doors.

When prisoners are allowed out of their cells during the one-hour recreation period, they wear several restraints and are escorted by multiple guards to a small outdoor cage. The prison was once described by former warden Robert Hood as "a clean version of hell."

The Penitentiary of New Mexico, located near Santa Fe, is infamous for the 1980 prison riot, one of the deadliest in U.S. history. During the riot, inmates took control of the prison, leading to extreme violence and the deaths of 33 prisoners.

Following the incident, the prison underwent significant reforms to improve security and inmate management. However, challenges remain, with ongoing issues related to gang violence, mental health care and overcrowding.

Today, the facility operates under tight security measures and houses some of the most dangerous criminals in the state. Despite reforms, the memory of the 1980 riot looms large, and the prison remains a symbol of the challenges within the U.S. correctional system.

Red Onion State Prison in Virginia is a supermax facility designed for the highest level of security and control.

Known for its extensive use of solitary confinement, the prison has faced scrutiny for keeping inmates in isolation for up to 23 hours a day, leading to widespread reports of psychological deterioration. Critics argue that the prolonged isolation practices amount to psychological torture.

While the prison aims to contain some of the most dangerous inmates, it has been repeatedly criticized for its harsh disciplinary measures and inadequate mental health services. Despite its reputation, the state has made efforts to review and reduce solitary confinement practices in recent years, though advocacy groups claim that more changes are needed.

The oldest prison in California, San Quentin is notoriously known for its violence. It has been home to many infamous criminals, including Charles Manson, Scott Peterson and Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy.

It had the only death row facility in the state for more than 700 death row inmates (the largest facility in the United States), and home to California's only gas chamber. But in early 2022, the state started the process of closing death row and relocating the inmates, three years after the California governor ended executions in the state.

Over the years, and particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, San Quentin earned a reputation for corruption and interracial riots that were encouraged by the guards.

This prison complex in Indiana consists of maximum-security, medium-security and low-security units. Nicknamed "Guantanamo North," Terre Haute is home to the United States federal government's execution chamber.

The ACLU accused Terre Haute in 2008 of having "grossly inadequate" conditions at its special confinement unit, where death row inmates are held. It accused the prison of denying the prisoners medical care and mental health services, and said they were subjected to so much noise that it caused them sleep deprivation.

In January 2021, Terre Haute had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the federal prison system, including inmates on death row. Federal executions at Terre Haute have been on pause since U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced July 1, 2021, the Department of Justice would review its policy on capital punishment.

This was after the Trump administration carried out 13 federal executions just months before the end of Trump's term, including the execution of Lisa Montgomery by lethal injection Jan. 12, 2021. Montgomery was the first woman put to death by the U.S. in 67 years.

Still, 46 men remain on death row at Terra Haute, including Dylann Roof, who was sentenced to death for federal hate crimes for killing nine church parishioners in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015.

We updated this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.