26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World (2024)

In this article, we will take a look at 26 most dangerous prisons in the world.

Prisons are intended to be correctional facilities where criminals and offenders can serve their sentences while being rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. However, in some parts of the world, these institutions are notorious for their brutal conditions, violence, and human rights abuses. The harsh realities within these walls often make survival a daily struggle for the inmates. From overcrowding and insufficient medical care to gang violence and corruption, many prisons have gained infamy for their horrible environments.

Overcrowding is a common issue that plagues many of the world’s most dangerous prisons. Inmates are often crammed into cells far beyond their intended capacity, leading to unhygienic conditions and greater tensions among prisoners. This overcrowding exacerbates the spread of diseases and makes it nearly impossible for prison staff to maintain control, often resulting in violent outbreaks. For example, in some prisons, cells meant to house ten inmates are found to be holding over 100 people, leading to violence and chaos.

Violence is another significant problem in these notorious prisons. Inmates often live in constant fear of assault from both fellow prisoners and corrupt guards. Gangs frequently control various aspects of prison life, and inmates must navigate these dangerous alliances to survive. This environment fosters a culture of brutality where only the strongest and most ruthless can survive. In many cases, the guards are either unwilling or unable to intervene, further increasing the cycle of violence.

Corruption is rampant in many of these institutions, contributing to their dangerous reputations. Guards and officials often engage in bribery and other illegal activities, turning a blind eye to the cruel occurrences within the prison walls. In some prisons, necessities like food, water, and medical care are withheld unless inmates can pay bribes, leaving the poorest inmates to suffer the most.

According to an article published in the Vera Institute, lack of adequate medical care is another critical issue in these prisons. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions lead to the rapid spread of diseases. Inmates with serious medical conditions frequently receive little to no treatment, leading to suffering and death. Also, according to Axios, COVID-19 death rates in prison were three times more than the general population in America. The absence of mental health services also increases the psychological toll on prisoners, many of whom are already dealing with trauma and mental illness.

Human rights abuses are widespread in the world’s most dangerous prisons. Inmates are subjected to inhumane treatment, including torture, forced labor, and prolonged solitary confinement. These abuses are often overlooked due to corruption and lack of oversight. International human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these practices, but change is slow and difficult to implement.

The conditions in these prisons not only harm the inmates but also reflect broader issues within the criminal justice systems of their respective countries. High incarceration rates often correlate with systemic issues such as poverty, lack of education, and weak rule of law. Venezuelan prisons are known to be in the worst conditions with overcrowding, understaffing, and funding too little.

In countries torn by war and discrimination, prisons are often filled with individuals who have been unfairly targeted or who are awaiting trial without any hope of justice. These conditions highlight the need for comprehensive reforms to address the root causes of crime and improve the human rights situation.

Despite these grim realities, there are ongoing efforts by international organizations, human rights advocates, and some governments to improve conditions in these prisons. These efforts include advocating for better treatment of inmates, reducing overcrowding, and providing adequate medical care. However, significant challenges remain, and progress is often slow.

As we delve into the list of the 26 most dangerous prisons in the world, it becomes evident that these institutions are not just places of punishment but environments of extreme suffering and survival. Understanding the conditions within these prisons sheds light on the urgent need for reform and the importance of protecting human rights, even for those who have been convicted of crimes.

Methodology

To make a list of the top 26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World, we have compiled prisons based on the number of prisoners who have died while being held in prison. Information has been obtained from research and news articles. We also took into consideration articles from our database like dangerous prisons, longest prison sentences, and countries with the most prisons.

Prison placed at number 1 in our list of 26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World has the highest number of inmate deaths recorded.

26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World (1)

26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World

26. Arthur Road Jail, India

Arthur Road Jail, also known as Mumbai Central Prison is ranked number 26 in our list of 26 Most Dangerous Prisons. This is Mumbai’s oldest and largest correctional facility. However, it grapples with severe issues of understaffing and overcrowding.

This prison has a capacity designed for 800 inmates, but holds over 2000, exacerbating tensions and prompting violent conflicts among prisoners. Gang wars, resulting in injuries and fatalities, are a regular occurrence within its walls. According to an article published in ANI news, one inmate died by suicide in the winter of 2022.

25. Terre Haute, U.S.A.

Terre Haute houses high-profile inmates like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Dubbed “Guantanamo North,” it faces criticism for poor conditions, inadequate medical care, and noise causing sleep deprivation in its special confinement unit. It had the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the federal system in January 2021.

According to a WFYI article 2 prisoners in total have been killed in this prison. In January of 2024, a prisoner named Mario Waters was murdered by another inmate.

24. San Quentin State Prison, USA

San Quentin is ranked 24 on our list. In 1982, a riot erupted at San Quentin State Prison, pitting Hispanic and African American inmates against each other. Tragically, six prisoners lost their lives in the violence. This event underscored the tensions within the prison system and highlighted the need for measures to address intergroup conflicts and improve safety.

23. Camp Jail, Lahore Pakistan

Ranked 23 in our list of Most Dangerous Prisons is Camp Jail in Lahore, Pakistan. This jail has seen a troubling increase in inmate deaths recently. A mysterious rise in deaths has been witnessed, with 6 prisoners passing away in 12 days during winter. These deaths were due to head injuries and chronic illnesses, raising serious concerns about the prison’s conditions and healthcare facilities.

22. Guatemala Prison

As per BBC, in 2019, a violent uprising erupted in a Guatemalan prison, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven inmates and leaving numerous others injured. This incident highlighted the urgent need for improved prison management and reform efforts to prevent such tragedies in the future.

21. Rikers Island, New York

Rikers Island in New York is notorious for its harsh conditions. Inmates face overcrowding, violence, and inadequate medical care. Reports of abuse by guards and rampant gang activity exacerbate the brutal environment.

The facility’s poor conditions have led to numerous deaths, sparking calls for its closure and reform. Nine men have died after being held on Rikers Island.

20. Guantanamo Bay

Ranked 20 on our list of 26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World is Guantanamo Bay. This Cuban detention camp faces global outcry for its harsh treatment of detainees. The horrifying conditions include reports of torture, indefinite detention without trial, and human rights abuses. 9 inmates have been killed while being held at the prison camp. This sheds light on the dire living conditions at Guantanamo.

19. Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, USA

Going by the statement of the Statehouse News Bureau, an 11-day riot occurred in 1993. The riot left a profound mark on the state’s history. Amidst the chaos, nine inmates lost their lives, along with one brave corrections officer in Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, USA. The riot showed how complicated prisons can be and stressed how important it is to solve conflicts well and make prisons better.

18. Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Kenya

Ranked 18 on our list of Dangerous Prisons In The World. Kamiti Maximum Security Prison is in Kenya which is infamous for its harsh conditions. Some prisoners have been killed while attempting to escape or have died due to torture by prison officers. 10 prisoners have died this year from torture alone, highlighting severe human rights violations within the facility.

17. Parc Prison Bridgend

Parc Prison in Bridgend comes under scrutiny due to many troubling incidents.10 inmates have died in just over three months amid claims of drug misuse by prisoners. This string of deaths has raised concerns about the prison’s conditions and the effectiveness of its drug control measures, highlighting significant challenges in maintaining inmate safety and well-being.

16. La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela

La Sabaneta Prison in Venezuela is notorious for its violent and inhumane conditions. Overcrowding, rampant disease, and gang violence plague the facility. Inmates often face brutal treatment and lack necessities. The prison’s harsh environment has led to numerous deaths, making it one of the most dangerous in the world.

Recently, 16 prisoners were killed in violence inside a jail in the western Venezuelan city of Maracaibo. Fifteen inmates died in fights between rival gangs. The other victim was killed in a separate incident.

15. Cadereyta, Nuevo León, México

A riot erupted within Cadereyta prison claiming the lives of 16 inmates. The chaos unfolded amidst tensions due to overcrowding, gang rivalries, and inadequate facilities.

14. Mendoza Prison, Argentina

Mendoza Prison in Argentina is extremely overcrowded, holding about three times more prisoners than it can handle. According to Amnesty International, 22 prisoners have died due to ill-treatment. The prison has a capacity for 600 inmates but at present over 1,600 inmates are helping. The cells, measuring only 43 square feet, often contain up to five inmates, many of whom are forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses.

The prison faced issues such as torture, deaths, inadequate medical care, and the lack of a proper sewage system, forcing prisoners to use plastic bags and bottles as toilets.

13. La Modelo, Columbia

Located in Bogota, Colombia, La Modelo prison houses left-wing rebels in the north wing and right-wing government supporters in the south wing, with the space between serving as a battleground. Despite inmates having access to firearms and explosives, prison staff are unarmed. In an article published by Al Jazeerah, in March 2020, a riot erupted resulting in 23 deaths and 83 injuries. It also holds some of Colombia’s most notorious criminals.

12. Attica Correctional Facility, USA

Attica Correctional Facility, situated in Attica, New York, is a maximum-security prison housing some of America’s most notorious criminals. Attica is described as having a grim history of prison violence, notably the 1971 riot where inmates seized control, holding 42 staff members hostage for four days.

Tragically, the riot resulted in the loss of 43 lives, including 29 inmates and several prison staff. Its reputation has earned it a place among the top 10 most dangerous prisons globally.

11. The Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM), USA

PNM is a men’s maximum-security correctional facility. It comprises three separate facilities: level II, level V, and level VI. The level VI facility serves as a supermax site, housing death row inmates and high-risk individuals.

In 1980, PNM witnessed the deadliest prison riot in U.S. history, the New Mexico State Penitentiary riot, claiming 33 lives. This incident solidified PNM’s position as one of the 25 most dangerous prisons globally.

10. Gldani Prison, Georgia

Gldani is number 10 in our list of most brutal prisons in the world. As per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 35 prisoners have died due to unknown reasons. The 2012 scandal at Gldani Prison in Tbilisi, Georgia, exposed prisoner torture by guards, including rape and assault, in videos filmed by a former guard. The footage led to nationwide protests and reforms in prisoner treatment.

While Georgia’s prison conditions have improved, Gldani Prison faces renewed scrutiny due to protests over the imprisonment of former president Mikheil Saakashvili. Supporters and opponents of Saakashvili’s release are protesting, highlighting the prison’s notoriety.

9. National Female Penitentiary for Social Adaptation, Honduras

The National Female Penitentiary for Social Adaptation in Honduras faces overcrowding and violence. Many inmates face poor living conditions, lacking basic hygiene and healthcare. The facility, intended to rehabilitate, often exacerbates the hardships of its prisoners, with frequent reports of abuse and neglect highlighting the dire situation faced by the women incarcerated there.

More than 40 women were killed in a Honduran prison riot. A deadly and violent riot led to deaths due to burning, gunshot wounds, and knife stabbings.

8. Bellavista Prison, Ecuador

BBC states that 40 prisoners were killed in a violent prison riot at Bellavista Prison in Ecuador, according to the public prosecutor, and that makes it the world’s toughest prison. The riot, involving rival gangs Los Lobos and R7, took place in Santo Domingo. Amid rising gang violence, Ecuador has seen some of its deadliest prison riots recently. During the chaos, 108 inmates escaped and remain missing.

7. Topo Chico, Mexico

Next in line is Topo Chico. In 2016, a violent riot erupted at Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Mexico, taking the lives of 49 inmates. The incident shed light on the horrible conditions and rampant violence within the facility, prompting calls for prison reform and improved security measures.

6. Anísio Jobim (Compaj) Penitentiary, Brazil

Anísio Jobim Penitentiary, a prison in Brazil, witnessed one of the most brutal riots in history on January 1st, 2017. The riot, not triggered by poor conditions or targeting officers, pitted rival gang members against each other. The factions involved were The Family of the North and The First Command of the Capital. Shockingly, the riot resulted in the torture and decapitation of 56 inmates.

26 Most Dangerous Prisons In The World (2024)

FAQs

Which jail is more dangerous? ›

Pelican Bay State Prison is home to more than 1,600 inmates according to population data from the state. It's home to some of the most dangerous criminals in the entire world according to the US Department of Justice.

Who has the most humane prisons in the world? ›

A country like Norway prioritises inmates' human rights, which boasts a low recidivism rate of 20%. Jails like Halden are considered the most humane prison in the world, and the Norwegian government spends a hefty amount to make it possible.

Who has the most prisons in the United States? ›

Texas is home to the greatest number of prisons and jails in the USA. With 313 prisons it has 110% more places of incarceration than colleges.

What is the worlds most maximum security prisons? ›

Facilities in ADX Florence Prison. According to SF Gate, ADX Florence is the only prison specifically designed to keep every occupant in near-total solitary confinement. The facility takes up 21 acres of land, holding dangerous male prisoners who require high levels of security.

What is America's toughest jail? ›

ADX Florence, USA

Commonly known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” ADX Florence houses some of the most dangerous and notorious criminals. Inmates are subjected to 23 hours of solitary confinement daily, with minimal human contact.

Who is the most protected prisoner in the world? ›

There is perhaps no other man in the world who is now more heavily guarded than Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán.

Which country treats its prisoners the best? ›

Correctional facilities in Norway focus on maintaining custody of the offender and attempting to make them functioning members of society. Norway's prison system is renowned as one of the most effective and humane in the world.

Who owns most US prisons? ›

CoreCivic, formerly the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), is a company that owns and manages private prisons and detention centers and operates others on a concession basis.

Who has the most felonies in the United States? ›

(2017) show that while the share of the total U.S. adult population with felony records is about 8 percent, the share of Black adults is about 23 percent. This rate is even higher for Black men, where one-third (33 percent) have a felony record (Shannon et al., 2017).

What is the busiest jail in the US? ›

With an inmate population of 19,836, almost the size of the nearby University of Southern California, and a budget worth over $700 million, Los Angeles County jail is the largest incarceration center in the US. It takes over 1,500 inmates to court every day.

What state has the most murders in prisons? ›

BY BETH SHELBURNE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, CAMPAIGN FOR SMART JUSTICE. 16 people were victims of homicide inside Alabama prisons in 2019, the highest number on record.

What is the most famous jail in the world? ›

United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, also known simply as Alcatraz (English: /ˈælkəˌtræz/, Spanish: [alkaˈtɾaθ] "the gannet") or The Rock, was a maximum security federal prison on Alcatraz Island, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, California, United States.

How real is World's Toughest prisons? ›

Incredibly, we have now filmed in over 27 different prisons around the world but it's not easy convincing prisons to open their doors and allow our crew in, with permission to film things exactly as we find them.

Which is the safest jail? ›

The most secure federal prison in the United States is the Administrative-maximum security prison (ADX) at the Federal Correctional Complex in Florence, Colorado. Prisoners confined in that institution have very little contact with others.

Where is the strongest jail? ›

ADX Florence, also known as the Florence Supermax, is a formidable symbol of maximum security in the American federal prison system. Located in Fremont County, Colorado, it operates under the Federal Bureau of Prisons, offering an unparalleled level of custody designed for the most dangerous and high-profile inmates.

What is the highest level of jail? ›

A super-maximum security (supermax) or administrative maximum (ADX) prison is a "control-unit" prison, or a unit within prisons, which represents the most secure level of custody in the prison systems of certain countries.

What is the most dangerous punishment in jail? ›

The extreme penalty for crime is capital punishment, or death. Execution of criminals for a great variety of offenses has been carried out by such methods as drowning, stoning, hanging, and beheading. Modern executions are usually done by means of electrocution, the gas chamber, or a lethal injection of a drug.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6090

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.