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Butyrka Prison, Russia -

Housing political prisoners during the Soviet era, its 10-person cells often hold 100, a stark testament to Russia's brutal approach to incarceration.

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Diyarbakir Prison, Turkey -

Diyarbakir is a name synonymous with despair and defiance. This facility's conditions sparked hunger strikes and desperate pleas, echoing the inmates' unending quest for a glimpse of humanity.

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Gldani Prison, Tbilisi, Georgia -

At Gldani, it's not just inmate against inmate but also guards wielding terror. In 2012, leaked footage unveiled a world where torture by guards wasn't the exception but the norm, revealing the shockingly cruel reality of life behind its walls.

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Camp 22, North Korea -

Shrouded in secrecy, Camp 22 is a chilling narrative of isolation and horror. This sprawling complex, cut off from the world, holds stories of unthinkable human rights violations, with inmates enduring a life sentence of despair.

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Mendoza Prison, Argentina -

Amidst the scenic landscapes of Argentina lies Mendoza Prison, a facility known for its dire living conditions. Amnesty International's condemnation highlights the urgent need for reform in a place where hope seems distant.

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La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela -

Imagine a space for 700 swelling with 3,700 souls. La Sabaneta, marked by severe understaffing, is where lawlessness meets its peak. Here, gangs rule, and the thin line of control seems to grow thinner with each passing year.

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ADX Florence, Colorado, USA -

ADX Florence represents the pinnacle of maximum security, a place where isolation becomes the ultimate punishment. Here, inmates face the soul-crushing reality of life reduced to the barest essentials, under the watchful eye of unyielding surveillance.

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Black Dolphin Prison, Russia -

Black Dolphin's fearsome reputation precedes it. Housing the most hardened criminals, this Russian fortress ensures no hope of escape, with inmates living a blindfolded reality, a true abyss of remorse and relentless monotony.

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Gitarama Central Prison, Rwanda -

Gitarama is yet another testament to overcrowding. Picture 7,000 inmates where only 400 should be, standing endlessly or huddled together, a haunting echo of survival. Prison in its most severe form.

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Penal de Ciudad Barrios Prison, El Salvador -

In Penal de Ciudad Barrios, inmates outnumber guards at an overwhelming ratio, leaving the prison under the rule of its own makeshift hierarchy. This notorious facility is a living testament to the complexities of prison governance.

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Bang Kwang Prison, Thailand -

Bang Kwang, known as the "Bangkok Hilton," is infamous for its tough regime and overcrowding. This maximum-security facility, with its harsh conditions, spotlights the challenges of Thailand's penitentiary system.

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San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima, Peru -

In the crowded chaos of San Juan de Lurigancho, 7,000 inmates carve out existence in a space meant for 2,500. Cockfighting and black market trade thrive here.

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Black Beach Prison, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea -

Black Beach is filled with the horrors of incarceration—overcrowding, disease, and rampant guard brutality. In this notorious facility, basic humanity is forgotten, and survival is a daily battle.

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Tadmor Military Prison, Syria -

Tadmor is a name that resonates with brutality. Dubbed the 'kingdom of death and madness,' the prison's history of summary executions and torture is a dark chapter in Syria's legacy. 

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Nairobi Prison, Kenya -

In Nairobi Prison, 4,000 inmates share space in a facility meant for 800, living in a stark reality of systemic abuse and disease. Here, the struggle for space and dignity paints a grim picture of prison life.

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Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, California, USA -

Alcatraz's legend as an inescapable fortress in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay lives on. Today, it stands as a stark reminder of the isolation and despair that can define prison life.

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El Rodeo Prison, Venezuela -

El Rodeo is like a battleground, where 50,000 of Venezuela's most violent inmates create a law unto themselves. Despite efforts by authorities, the prison's rampant violence and gang wars carry on. 

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Rikers Island, New York, USA -

New York's infamous Rikers Island mirrors the city's intensity. Efforts to tame its notorious violence have turned it into a battlefield of ideologies, where reform and abuse collide every day.

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Pollsmoor Prison, South Africa -

Once home to Nelson Mandela, Pollsmoor Prison is known for its overcrowding and harsh conditions. Efforts to reform and rehabilitate reflect the broader struggle to balance punishment with human dignity.

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Pelican Bay State Prison, California, USA -

In the secluded forests of California, Pelican Bay houses inmates in a web of concrete and steel. The isolation here tests the human spirit, which has raised questions about the nature of punishment and the potential for reform.

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Drapchi Prison, Tibet -

Drapchi, Tibet's largest prison, is notorious for its strict regime and reports of brutality. Its inmates are often political prisoners.

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La Santé Prison, Paris, France -

La Santé, in the heart of Paris, reveals the stark contrast between the city's legendary attractions and the grim reality within its walls. The high suicide rate here speaks volumes about the despair faced by its inmates.

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Carandiru Penitentiary, São Paulo, Brazil -

Carandiru, once the stage of a brutal massacre, stands as a grim reminder of unchecked violence and human rights abuses. Its closure sparked a broader conversation on prison conditions and the need for systemic reform.

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Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Nairobi, Kenya -

Kamiti's overcrowded cells and unsanitary conditions underscore the pressing challenges faced by Kenya's prison system. Here, the battle for basic necessities is a daily struggle for its inmates.

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Pyatak Prison, Vologda, Russia -

In the heart of Russia's harsh landscape, Pyatak Prison holds its inmates in a vice of psychological torment. The desolation here chips away at the very essence of its prisoners, leaving a lasting impact on their souls.

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San Quentin State Prison, California, USA -

San Quentin, with its storied past, houses California's most notorious inmates. Despite improvements, the prison's history of violence and notoriety casts a long shadow.

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Attica Correctional Facility, New York, USA -

Attica's name is synonymous with the infamous 1971 riot. It still serves as a reminder of the tensions that can arise in overcrowded conditions. Today, it continues its complex role, housing some of New York's most serious offenders.

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Guantanamo Bay Prison, Cuba -

Guantanamo Bay, with its complex legal status, has become a symbol of the global struggle against terrorism and the ensuing debate over human rights and due process. As per a new decision by US President Donald Trump, the federal government will use the US Naval base at Guantanamo Bay to build another detention facility in order to host 30,000 undocumented immigrants.

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Parchman Farm State Penitentiary, Mississippi, USA -

Parchman Farm, with its vast expanse and history of labor, reflects the deep complexities of the American penal system and the enduring legacy of race, punishment, and justice in the South.

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Tent City (Maricopa County Prison), Arizona, USA -

Arizona's Tent City, with its sweltering heat and open-air tents, was a controversial experiment in incarceration. It challenged conventional norms and sparked a national debate on the conditions of confinement. These are not the type of conditions you'd like to be locked up in for the rest of your life if you're not a fan of back-breaking heat.

Sources: (Facts.net) (Yahoo Finance) (WatchMojo)

See also: The world's most dangerous cities to live in

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