Some of the World’s Most Unusual Prisons
Here are some of the most unusual prisons in the world. Only after your freedom is taken away can you start appreciating it. All actions restricted by law have as a consequence loss of freedom. Many consider that one of the primary human rights is that of freedom and thus are against putting people behind bars. However, there are those who think that every misdeed should be punished in order to make life in society safer. There are different kinds of living conditions in jails. These are some of the most unusual and thus they have made their way onto our list.
1. Justizzentrum Leoben (Austria) – a 5-star prisonLife in prison doesn’t have to be necessarily hard and uncomfortable. This prison proof exactly that. It doesn’t look like an ordinary prison from the outside, many of you would think of it to be a local business building. However, the truth is somewhat different. Behinds these wall are some pretty notorious prisoners. These Austrian minimum security prisons are a great place to rest. In Australia most people end up behind bars for burglary charges. I wonder why? Who wouldn’t like to enjoy in one of these cozy 5-star prison cells? Sign me up!
2. San Pedro Prison (Bolivia) –Here inmates have to ‘buy’ their cells.
This is one unusual prison since there are no guards. After you have passed the security gate you will see restaurants, markets, hairdressers and even children who are playing in the prison yard. However, inmates have to pay for their cells, therefore of them have to work inside the jail, selling groceries or working in the food stalls. Cells cost between $1,000 and $1,500 and can be bought for the duration of an inmate’s sentence serving.
3. Cebu Prison (Philippines) – the world’s most famous dancing inmatesYou would think that prison atmosphere ought to be gloomy and ominous. But since prisoners are humans they know how to have fun. Not even the prison wall can bring their spirits down. The prisoners in Cebu Prison are one of the most known prisoners to the general population since they can dance exceptionally. They love dancing to pop music, especially to the King of Pop’s songs. If you haven’t seen them dance take look at the video above. Aren’t they amazing?
4. Aranjuez Prison (Spain): a prison with cozy family cellsThis is the only prison in the world that has a nursery room for the kids to bond with their incarcerated parents. This prison in Spain has nursery rooms with Disney characters on the walls so that the children feel comfortable while they are spending time with their parents. This prison is 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Madrid, it has 36 cell units for families. However, only 16 are occupied, most by Latin Americans learning parenting skills.
5. Sark Prison (Guernsey): the smallest prison in the worldIt is located in the Island of Sark in Guernsey. It was built in 1856 and can house two prisoners and today is used for overnight stays. It is the smallest prison in the world.
6. Kresty Prison (Russia): world's most overcrowded prisonRussia's prisons have a reputation for being the most overcrowded on earth, especially Kresty Prison in St. Petersburg. The official capacity is set at 3,000, but the actual population is always at least 10,000. Each prisoner is also said to only be allowed 4 square meters of space each and 15 minutes a week (a week!) to shower. In summer 2006 Vladimir Putin announced that the prison would be relocated to a new facility in the Kolpinsky District on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg. After the relocation is complete the Kresty building will be sold at auction. It is anticipated that the prison building will be transferred into a hotel-entertainment complex.
7. ADX (Colorado): the Super-maximum security prisonThe United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) is a supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, USA. This is the ultimate prison, literally. Since it opened in 1994, ADX is nothing but slow and inhumane torture. Inmates are only allowed out of their cells for 9 hours a week and barely interact with anyone. There's hardly any sunlight and you have to do everything in your cell. Prisoners are served meals in their cells. The room is mostly poured concrete which ensures the furniture can't be moved or even humped comfortably. The toilet will shut off if someone tries to plug it and showers work on a timer to cut back on potential flooding. ADX is a prison intended for the worst felons the country has to offer.
8. Bastoey Island low security prison (Norway): first ecological prisonAlthough criminals have been found guilty for some horrendous crimes against humanity and put behind bars, there still lies a chance for 'em to show their goodness for our planet at the world's first ecological prison. Although the idea of a eco-friendly prisons isn't widespread, a small island tucked away in Norway has managed to bring the fresh green change at the Bastoey prison. The Bastoey Island low security prison uses solar panels for energy, produces most of its own food, recycles everything it can and tries to reduce its carbon footprint. The solar panels have cut the prison's electricity needs by up to 70 percent. Hoping to install a sense of responsibility in their inmates, the authorities aim to instill a strong sense of responsibility towards mankind and our environment as well.
If inmates at this prison do porridge, it is organic porridge. For it is not only recreational drugs that are banned, pesticides are too. Bastoey has also tapped grants from environmental bodies to help it produce high-quality food. Though most of the food is used in the kitchen there, surplus is sold to other prisons too. Touted as the island of hope, this prison has also gained international media attention for its living conditions, resembling a summer camp with activities like tennis, horse riding, and even swimming in the summer, when the North Sea waters warm up. Isn't it inviting? Maybe this eco friendly luxuriously prison lifestyle is going to tempt many to commit a crime to gain an entry to the ‘island of hope'.
9. Cereso Chetumal (Mexico): where inmates solve their problems boxingCERESO Chetumal is a unique prison that has seen no violence in ten years and that has an excellent arts/crafts program that teaches the prisoners and sells to tourists. According to Warden Victor Terazzas, "when there is a disagreement, we have the inmates involved put on the gloves and get into the boxing ring, after about two rounds the dispute is over."
The about 1100 inmates are often said no to want to leave the jail because of the easy life they have inside: a great menu that includes eggs for breakfast, cultural activity with men and woman and are also allowed to take long naps. Not to mention the VIP cells.
10. Alcatraz (California): world's most famous prisonAlcatraz Island, sometimes informally referred to as simply Alcatraz or locally as the Rock, is a small island located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California, United States. It served as a lighthouse, then a military fortification, then a military prison followed by a federal prison until 1963. It became a national recreation area in 1972 and received landmarking designations in 1976 and 1986. Today, the island is a historic site operated by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is open to tours. During its 29 years of operation, the penitentiary claimed no prisoners as ever having successfully escaped.
