Prison cells are typically not the place we want to see, but at times we just can't help but wonder what it's like on the inside. Well, no need to wonder any longer as we've compiled a list for you. Whether it be the most luxurious prison or the most overcrowded ones, we've got quite a few for you to check out here. But be careful; curiosity killed the cat. Well, maybe looking at some photos wouldn't do that, so please continue on to see that which cannot normally be seen.
Aranjuez Prison, Spain
At first glance, this might seem like the perfect family in their child's wonderful room. But if you read the title of this list, you'd know that it is in fact a prison. At Aranjuez Prison, incarcerated people are still allowed to spend time with their families. Spanish officials say that this is the only family prison in the world and that might just be true. Parents are allowed to move in together and take care of their children together.
Since a child's biggest influence is their family, this prison aims to keep the illusion that everything is okay for as long as possible so that the children can grow up happy with their families.
Halden Prison, Norway
This prison located in Norway is the second-largest one in the country. They receive prisoners from all over the world and, despite being a maximum-security prison, they don't use conventional security measures there. Each cell comes with flat screens, mini-fridges, desks, a toilet with a shower, and bright, unbarred vertical windows. Pretty luxurious if you ask us.
The goal of the prison is to maximize the activities the prisoners have, otherwise, they might become more aggressive. Makes sense to us.
Onomichi Prison, Japan
This prison in Japan is one for the elderly only. There is an increasing number of elderly prisoners here due to the high life expectancy and the lowered birth rate. Because the prisoners are older, there are a lot more accessibilities like handrails and ramps and the prisoners are able to enjoy soft food and activities such as sewing and knitting. Although it's supposed to be a prison, it seems more like a retirement home with obvious limitations.
They also receive a TV here as well as maintaining a bunch of standard Japanese traditions like tatami floored rooms and futon beds.
Norgerhaven Prison, Netherlands
Due to having such a low crime rate, this prison in the Netherlands faces an underwhelmingly low influx of native prisoners. In order to counteract this issue, they have actually agreed to take on some of the prisoners from Norway. These prisoners receive such privileges as having a television, refrigerator, and a private bathroom. Seems like a pretty good deal for those being sent away from home.
Based on some of the things we see on TV, this almost seems like a luxury prison. Although, as you'll find out, there are many luxurious prisons than this one.
HMP Addiewell, Scotland
Typically, you'll see images of prisons being dull, monochromatic, and overall depressing places. Not so in the HDP Addiewell prison in Lothian, Scotland. The prison is really set on making sure their prisoners are well rehabilitated rather than simply punished. This pop of color only helps add to the process. The prisoners are put through all sorts of educational and counseling programs to help them go back to society the best they can be.
There are many prisons that try to be more for rehabilitation rather than punishment, which helps give people a second chance. Not everything can be so perfect, though.
Quezon City Jail, Philippines
You may think of prisons as dark and depressing, but for the most part, you've probably only seen them so bad. There are many prisons whose living conditions couldn't be farther from terrible. Take Quezon City Jail in the Philippines for example. There is essentially no space for prisoners to sleep as there are typically 200 or so prisoners stuffed into a cell made for 20.
These living conditions can be extremely unhygienic and prisoners can sometimes end up battling for space and water for themselves.
Black Dolphin Prison, Russia
The Black Dolphin Prison is somewhere you don't want to visit. This prison houses the most brutal offenders the country has to offer. People here include murderers, cannibals, terrorists, and serial killers, all of whom combined boast a number of killings numbering in the thousands. These cells are often referred to as cells within a cell as they are placed at least three feet behind the entrance, which itself is three metal doors.
It is said that the only way to get out of here is by dying since there is such high security which runs 24 hours a day. That's pretty intense.
Champ-Dollon Prison, Switzerland
This prison in Geneva, Switzerland isn't meant to hold prisoners for long. Its primary purpose is to house people who are still awaiting sentencing. As such, it's a lot nicer looking and cleaner than any normal prison. The problem is that it's been facing an overcrowding problem due to an increase in inmates. In 2010, there was only about seven percent of inmates who were of Swiss nationality.
Other than the fact that it's overcrowded and you're probably going to prison, this wouldn't be such a bad place to live. But that isn't saying much.
The Las Colinas Detention And Reentry Facility, California
This facility is relatively new, having opened back in 2014. It is a facility for women aiming to actually rehabilitate inmates, which can't be said for many prisons in America. It is the first of its kind to use environmental and behavioral psychology strategies in an attempt to "improve the experience and behavior of both inmates and staff". By the looks of it, they really mean it.
This place looks nice and clean and colorful and doesn't seem like it would be the worst place to be sent. At least, if you don't mind being separated only by a couple of half-walls.
Landsberg Prison, Germany
This prison sports many training courses for a variety of professions for the inmates that are there today. But it wasn't always the "blessing" that it is today. It was the very same prison that Hitler wrote "Mein Kampf", and where nearly 300 Nazis were executed. As gruesome as that is, inmates can be rest assured that they won't be facing execution there anymore.
Even still, it doesn't seem to have the most comfortable living conditions. It's cramped and there's no privacy (which, apparently, can be expected sometimes). But, hey, at least there's a TV.
Oslo's Skien Prison, Norway
If you were looking for some amount of privacy, you could try Oslo's Skien Prison in Norway (yes, we are aware you can't just choose these things). This facility also boasts a television as well as its private toilet and shower combo in every cell. Prisoners can also play video games and use a gym. All of this is in an effort to provide prisoners the ability to return to society, which we think is a pretty good deal.
It sucks to think about all of the people who were convicted of petty crimes that don't have access to this sort of thing in our society when there are literally murderers stationed here. Prisoners have rights, too, and stealing some things shouldn't land you somewhere worse than this.
Otago Corrections Facility, New Zealand
There seem to be many places that provide televisions to their inmates and Otago Corrections Facility in Milburn, New Zealand is one of them. In fact, this is one of the more luxurious prisons around. Just look at how comfortable that bed looks! not to mention all the bright colors and posters. This room actually looks more like a college bedroom than any prison we've ever seen.
Actually, if you had told us that this was a dorm room, we would have believed it. You can't say you wouldn't do the same.
The Maula Prison, Malawi
We're back to another prison that is anything but luxurious. As we've said before, not everyone can be so lucky to have a television or a sports center. Even people convicted of petty crimes can end up in a facility as bad as this. It's as overcrowded as Quezon City jail. This facility also only serves just one meal a day as they don't have a very large budget. And good luck getting water from one fountain for 900 people.
There is, however, the ability for the prisoners to play sports. Though in a place like this, that doesn't even come close to outweighing the bad.
ADX Florence, Colorado
This facility in Colorado, USA is a supermax prison, one of the highest security prisons in America. It is also known as the US Penitentiary Administrative Maximum. It's a very modern-looking facility made for the worst of the worst. Despite being too dangerous for any other prison, they are able to enjoy a fairly good-looking cell. With a blend of stone and metal, it may be monochromatic but it sure looks relatively nice.
There is a reason for all of this. In order to make sure these people aren't a danger to themselves, it's kept as clean as possible and everything is highly regulated. Each cell is made for one person and they are typically kept there for 23 hours a day.
Haiti's Civil Prison, Haiti
Once again we have a prison that is quite uncomfortable to be in. The walls are tattered, the beds are rusted, and the cells are made for four with absolutely no privacy--not even half-walls. It is also extremely overcrowded. It has also been plagued by prison breaks. In 2016, 174 prisoners escaped and one guard was killed and again last February more than 200 escaped with 25 dead.
The most recent escape resulted in the death of the prison's director. We would not want to end up here in any lifetime.
San Quentin State Prison, California
This is the very same prison that held the infamous cult leader Charles Manson. It is the oldest prison in California having been built in 1852, just two years after joining the union. It also happens to be one of the biggest death rows in America. In December 2015 there were over 700 people in line to be executed. That's an extremely large number relative to other prisons in the country.
It also looks more typical of what we see on TV with small, cramped spaces with a lot of clutter. Though this picture is missing the classic vertical bars.
Evin Prison, Iran
This picture may look pretty nice with wide-open spaces for its multi-person cells, but don't be deceived by it. It's been basically all but confirmed by Iran to be a torture chamber. It is overcrowded, has poor hygiene, and has a lack of air conditioning which can make conditions inside become sweltering in the hot summers. All contact with the outside is denied and there is barely any good food or water to go around.
It's basically meant to break the will of the prisoners held within, especially the political prisoners. There are so many intellectuals heald here that it has been unofficially dubbed "Evin University".
HM Prison Dartmoor, England
This is also something we're used to seeing on TV and media. It looks like one of those solitary confinement rooms. The piping along the walls doesn't help it feel any better. This is a prison for mainly non-violent offenders. Once again, it has a high lack of privileges outside the general ones that prisons have which doesn't help these petty criminals' desire for rehabilitation, meanwhile worse criminals get TVs elsewhere.
What it does have, though, is a regimen for behavior-changing treatment that involves the voluntary use f medication to help rehabilitate its inmates. No TVs, video games, or gyms. Just pills.
Rikers Island Prison, New York
This jail is one of the worst jails in America. It is so bad that they have made plans to close it and other New York Prisons by the end of 2026, to be replaced by four borough-based jails. It drew a lot of criticism when a teenager awaiting trial for stealing a backpack killed himself after spending three years. here. This is just going back to the poor jail system in America and how the smallest crimes can send you to the worst places.
The state of these rooms is something to scoff at. Even though you are in a jail cell, the least they can do is upkeep it. It looks like it hasn't been renovated since its opening in 1925.
Neve Tirza, Israel
In Israel, this is the only prison to be exclusively for women. In 2019 there were over 200 women imprisoned there. Each cell houses about six women who might have to share their sleeping spaces. Most of the cells include a bathroom and shower, at the very least. It is located in the city of Ramla and is directly adjacent to Maasiyahu Prison.
Because it is the only prison for women in Israel, it has become overcrowded. And since it's the only one, if you are a woman it doesn't matter what you've done or who you are, you're going here.
Bordeaux Prison, Canada
This prison in Montreal is home to criminals who are serving less than two years in prison. That being said, it's not necessarily where you want to spend those few years. It was opened by 1912 and has since become pretty run down. Being the largest institution in Quebec, its maximum capacity is around 1,189 inmates, although that won't stop it from becoming overcrowded as well.
Also, between 1912 and 1960, it was an execution site. There were a total of 85 hangings during this period, but it has since been shut down for those services.
Altiplano Prison, Mexico
This prison is a maximum-security prison located in Almoloya De Juarez, Mexico. The airspace above the prison is restricted and the walls are built with a thickness of 1 meter in order to deter ramming. Not only that but cell service is reportedly limited to 10 km in order to block communications between the inmates and their acquaintances in the outside world.
It was thought, therefore, to be impenetrable. And to be fair, it was, until "El Chapo" Guzmán burrowed his way out through a tunnel he made.
The Federal Correctional Institution El Reno, Oklahoma
This medium-security prison located in El Reno, Oklahoma has one of two remaining farm facilities in the Bureau of Prisons. It is also seated next to a satellite camp for minimum-security male offenders. It was originally established in order to house younger prisoners. In July 2015, it became the first prison that a currently sitting president has ever visited a federal prison, with Barack Obama making his way there.
As far as the cells go, they are fairly standard typically housing two cellmates and not sporting a lot of space or privacy. At least the facility looks clean.
Desembargador Raimundo Vidal Pessoa Penitentiary, Brazil
The cells in this prison look more like some guy's garage or a warehouse of some sort revamped to be a hang-out spot for the guys. Don't be fooled, though, by its chill minty-green interior. It is a place full of danger for anyone entering. An uprising that took place in January 2017 left at least four people dead which only added to the more than 100 that were killed in gang wars in the whole of Brazil's penitentiary system.
As interesting and spacious as the interiors of the cells seems to be, we wouldn't want to end up going there even for a visit. Not that we really want to visit many prisons in general.
Alcatraz, California
This is one of the most iconic prisons in America. Not only that, but the cells here are the quintessential look for prisons portrayed on television and movies, although it isn't the standard. Its look is probably a part of the fact that it is a maximum-security prison and there have been many escape attempts, so its prisoners have to be watched at all times of the day.
The security there is so tight that there is a gun gallery and tear gas canisters attached to rafters in the ceiling in case of attempted riots or breakouts.
UN Detention Unit, Netherlands
This is one of the only prisons on this list to come with a personal computer. Though it is limited, it has access to the case files on the prisoner held within the cell. It also has a semi-private washing area in the corner there. Inmates are also welcome to use a gym and even have access to a fitness instructor. This place is used to hold prisoners in the midst of their trials and those who were convicted of international crimes like genocide, war crimes, and other such offenses.
All-in-all, it seems like a pretty good place to be if you fit into those categories. Though, at this point, it's hard to really call any of these places good places to be.
Luzira Prison, Uganda
In this prison in Kampala, Uganda the inmates are given far more responsibility than many of its US or UK counterparts. The prisoners maintain the harmony and functionality of the units that they live in which includes growing and harvesting their own food. It also encourages education and offers free learning opportunities with the possibility of receiving a degree.
We're not experts, but this seems to be on the right track to making real rehabilitation a reality for the inmates there. We think more prisons should offer opportunities like this and encourage their prisoners to be more self-fulfilling and independent.
Bastøy Prison, Norway
This is the largest low-security prison in Norway, and you can tell just by looking at the luxurious state of the "cells". It is built on the entire island of Bastøy and has many facilities like a church, library, school, health center, and a shop. It also has a football field, beach zones, and an agricultural landscape. It has been criticized for being too luxurious for its prisoners, but it also, by a long shot, has the lowest reoffending rate in Europe.
We're not saying we would want to live here--it is a prison after all--but if we ever had to be sent to jail for any reason this would obviously be our first choice.
Cebu Provincial Detention And Rehabilitation Center, The Philippines
This one is really cool. Imagine the show "Orange Is the New Black" if it were a musical. The prisoners at CPDRC get to perform dance routines for their exercise and as a part of their rehabilitation. We're not sure if this is necessarily the best prison, but we think we would put it high on our list for this alone. What better way to get back into the groove of being a normal citizen if not song and dance?
If you want to see some of these routines in action there are many that have been uploaded online. Try to find one. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.
Penal De Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador
Once again we find a prison that's notoriously overpopulated. Some of these cells look like something you would find in a fantasy film. Just cages of people stuffed together in a tiny enclosure with barely any room to move around. The reason for this are that these cells are exactly what they look like: cages meant to be temporary holding cells for a maximum of 72-hours.
Due to their position, they spend their days making hammocks out of the threads of their clothing in order to create more space to lay around in the cell. It's just terrible.
Petak Island Prison, Russia
If you thought Alcatraz was bad, then what about this place? It is often referred to as "the Alcatraz of Russia" as it hold many of their worst and most dangerous offenders. They are on lockdown for about the same time as well--22 and a half hours as opposed to 23--but they are stuck with another cellmate rather than being all alone in their enclosures.
Another similarity is its inability to be escaped. It is bordered on all sides by the White Lake whose water is too cold to swim through for very long. Good luck trying.
San Pedro Prison, Bolivia
This prison looks more like a regular neighborhood than a prison, and for good reason. There aren't any guards that are hired to keep watch as the only concern is keeping the prisoners inside. Therefore the police guard the place themselves. There is essentially a governing body run by the prisoners inside and they are typically elected through violence. And if you want your own cell you're likely going to have to purchase it.
Although it doesn't seem like you'd want to live there, many people bring their families as it's believed to be safer than the impoverished outside conditions. For the right amount, you can find luxury cells that are up to three floors with a kitchen and even a hot tub.
El Buen Pastor Women's Prison, Colombia
You may look at this picture and think that this prison might actually be pretty decent, but you would be wrong. There is a huge amount of violence amongst the prisoners and there is also (of course) an overcrowding problem. The cells were only designed to have two cellmates living together but have come to house more than that at anywhere between 10 to 20 people.
But it's not all bad. They attempt to bring some life back to the prisoners by holding beauty pageants and parades, so at least there's something to lift their spirits.
Abashiri Prison, Japan
This prison in Japan is very well guarded and has very stringent rules. Guards check the cells of inmates at least once a day and because of that there is no record of any sort of crime or violent acts within the prison. In fact, there is actually some good to come out of the prison. There is a souvenir shop at the front that sells goods that are made within, such as candy and hand made works.
We didn't think we'd be saying this by the end, but this is actually one prison we wouldn't mind visiting. If we get to see the types of work the inmates sell at the shop we'd love to support the good work that goes on there by buying some.