Most Deadliest Prisons in the World

Of course, nobody wants to go to prison, but there are some prisons that you really, really don’t want to be imprisoned as an inmate.

Being in jail is only part of the problem, staying alive is the bigger issue.

Here are the top 10 most dangerous prisons in the world.

Carandiru PrisonBrazil - The body count was sky-high at this notorious Brazilian prison, where riots in 1992 triggered a massacre of the general population by local police: inmates, who had already given in and surrendered to police, were shot as they cowered in terror in their tiny cells.

Tadmor PrisonSyria - The death count may not rank Tadmor Prison as number one on this list, but no other prison sent such shivers down my spine as I did my research.

La Sabaneta PrisonVenezuela - Venezuela is known for its brutal prisons, where violence is a daily occurrence, and inmates are at the mercy of disease outbreaks, underpaid staff, little medical services, and insufficient food and care.

La Sante PrisonParis, France - According to whistle-blower and former prison official Veronique Vasseur, this prison was a hellhole, where prisoners were forced to live out their sentences in concrete cells full of rats and lice.

Alcatraz Island PrisonSan Francisco, CA - This prison, known as “The Rock”, or “Devil’s Island” was built to house the criminals of the 1920’s, who broke laws during the times of Prohibition leading into the Great Depression. Another study in stark, soul-destroying discomfort and isolation, Alcatraz was known for its unique design, which made escape almost unthinkable.

Rikers Island PrisonRikers Island, New York - Stabbings, beatings and brutal treatment from prison guards characterize this American prison.

Bang Kwang PrisonThailand - Known as the “Bangkok Hilton”, Bang Kwang is understaffed, overcrowded, and filled with inmates who struggle with insanity as they spend the first months of their sentences chained in leg irons.

San Quentin Prison

San Quentin, California - In the 1930’s, San Quentin was rife with corruption by management, until a new director, Clinton Truman Duffy, appalled at the inhumane conditions at the prison, decided to implement reforms in the 1940’s.