1 Gitarama Central Prison, Rwanda
This facility earned its horrific reputation due to overcrowding, leading to unimaginably inhumane conditions. Inmates were reportedly kept in such close quarters that many were forced to stand day and night, leading to foot decay and resultant amputations. Food and water scarcity was also a constant issue. This prison was meant to hold 400 inmates. Want to know how many inmates there actually was at one point? Over 7,000. The conditions were so bad that many inmates resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. The place was rampant with disease and gangrene because of the inhospitable conditions.
Well if a house meant for 5 people is stuffed with 600 people, what will happen?
And we are talking about a prison here and that in Rwanda!
2 Camp 22, North Korea
Known officially as Kwan-li-so No.22, this facility is shrouded in secrecy and is alleged to harbor severe human rights abuses. Reports suggest systematic torture, starvation, forced labor, and execution as part of the penal system in this camp. That location can't be a good thing. This is one of those places that Koreans will go to if they speak up. Not just them though, so can their families be held in inhospitable conditions. Many of the detainees are deformed from beatings.
Knowing that it's in North Korea is bad enough.
3 Carandiru Penitentiary, Brazil
Notorious for the 1992 massacre where 111 prisoners were killed during a riot suppression, Carandiru was also infamous for rampant violence and disease, particularly HIV/AIDS, due to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Initially opened up in 1920, it did not house its first criminals until 1956 and eventually closed down in 2002 (Thank god! ). 111 prisoners have met their fate in here. What is most horrifying about this prison is that at one point, a fifth of the population of prisoners had HIV. That can only tell you that there was a lot of rape in this prison
4 Tadmor Prison, Syria
Tadmor was known for its brutal treatment of inmates, including physical abuse and mass executions. It was the site of the infamous 1980 massacre in which an estimated 800-2400 prisoners were killed following an assassination attempt on the president. The good news is that it was shut down in 2001. The bad news is what has happened inside. Initially being a military detention centre, however in the '80's it has been opened up to many types of criminals. Prisoners were left in inhospitable conditions left to starve to death. Many have been ordered to be executed.
5 Black Dolphin Prison, Russia
Holding some of Russia's most dangerous criminals, Black Dolphin Prison employs extreme control measures. Prisoners are kept isolated and under constant surveillance, allegedly subjected to physical and psychological stressors that are considered torturous. One of the toughest prisons in the world as well as one where the inmates are treated like they were terrorists (many of them actually are), held in lockdown for 24 hours seven days a week behind 3 steel doors. All of the prisoners have life sentences and will never see the outside world. Better get used to that paedophile you have as a cellmate!
Prisoners are held in a stress position as they are escorted rendering them powerless; when moving between buildings they are blindfolded to keep them unaware of their surroundings and prevent escape attempts because of this.
6 Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, El Salvador
7 Bang Kwang Central Prison, Thailand
Often called the "Bangkok Hilton", this prison is known for its harsh conditions. Inmates are required to wear shackles for the first three months, and overcrowding, poor nutrition, and inadequate healthcare make it a dreadful facility. The prison houses many foreign prisoners. It is a harsh prison which handles death row and long-sentence prisoners. All prisoners are required to wear leg irons for the first three months of their sentences. Death row inmates have their leg irons permanently welded on. Death row inmates are only given two hours notice before they are executed. As well as this, the prison is overcrowded but not to the extent of Gitarama or Carandiru.
8 La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela
This prison is characterized by severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, insufficient food, and frequent violent incidents. Its infamy peaked in 1994 when a fire killed over 100 inmates, and in 2013 when a riot resulted in 61 deaths. Overflowing and understaffed spells chaos. Disease is rampant and hygiene non-existent.
9 Tihar Jail, India
10 Jilava, Romania
Known for its severe conditions dating back to communist times, Jilava is notorious for its cold, dark, and damp cells. The poor ventilation, lack of basic amenities, and allegations of physical abuse add to its grim reputation.
The Contenders
11 Rikers Island Correctional Facility, United States
Rikers has a long history of violence, both inmate-on-inmate and guard-on-inmate. It is also known for its widespread corruption and inadequate mental health care services, which led to a number of preventable suicides. Just Google it and you will see that Rikers is no joke. Numerous murders, famous face slashing, C.os beating inmates, c,os stashing weapons, etc. Or just go on YouTube and see the documentaries of Riker Island.
12 New Bilibid Prison, Philippines
13 Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Cuba
Run by the U.S., this detention center has been embroiled in controversy due to allegations of severe human rights abuses. These include reports of torture, indefinite detention without trial, and inhumane interrogation techniques.
14 Taubaté Prison, Brazil
15 Spandau Prison, Germany
Spandau Prison was infamous mainly for its role as a holding place for prominent war criminals of the Second World War. The prison's severe isolation policy, where inmates were prevented from having any contact with the outside world, contributed to its dark reputation.
16 Ovadan-Depe, Turkmenistan
This facility is one of the most secretive in the world, and it is known for its extreme conditions. There are reports of prisoners being held in basement cells in unbearable heat, deprivation of food and water, and incidents of psychological and physical torture. Why is this not number one on the list?! Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in the world. It borders the Caspian Sea to the east and Iran to the north and is about 80% desert. Ovadan-Depe was constructed by Saparmurat Niyazov, the first dictator-president of Turkmenistan, and is kept operational by the current second dictator, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. It is about 23 miles northwest from Ashgabat (capital) in the Kara Kum desert (The Kara Kum is one of the worst deserts ever). It houses a lot of criminals and political enemies of the evil, tyrannical Turkmen dictatorship. It has hunchback cells where the prisoner is bent over and not able to move a muscle for days due to the cell size. They also change the climate and temperature in the cells from freezing to boiling very unexpectedly. They are beaten with batons and truncheons to the point of unconsciousness and inability to walk. They are exposed to malaria-infected mosquitoes and are tortured by hunger until they are nothing but bones. A person was put into Ovadan Depe for no good reason at all and when the guards took him in they said, "Only God can save you now" and "People only enter." The problem is that the Turkmen government is extremely good at keeping information about this place concealed. This must be #1 on the list.
17 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, United States
Alcatraz was renowned for housing some of America's most dangerous criminals in an isolated, high-security environment. The harsh living conditions, combined with the brutal physical and psychological punishment tactics employed, made it a dreaded facility.
18 Halden Prison, Norway
Interestingly, Halden Prison is considered one of the "worst" for reasons different from most others on this list. It is known for its ultra-lenient practices, focusing heavily on rehabilitation over punishment. Critics argue that the privileges offered to inmates, such as comfortable living quarters and various amenities, are excessive.
19 San Quentin State Prison, United States
This prison has a reputation for housing many of California's most dangerous criminals. It has a history of violence, overcrowding, and has been the center of multiple protests over inhumane conditions. Additionally, it is the only prison in California that carries out the death penalty.
20 ADX Florence Federal Correctional Complex, United States
Known as the most secure prison in the United States, ADX Florence is designed to house inmates deemed too dangerous for regular incarceration. The prison has faced criticism for its use of extended periods of solitary confinement, leading to severe mental health consequences for inmates.
21 Gldani Prison, Georgia
This prison came into global attention in 2012 when videos of guards torturing inmates were leaked. The harsh treatment and human rights abuses reported from this facility led to major protests and reforms in the Georgian prison system.