Top 7 Biggest Prisons In The World

In general, the prison has been used as a place for those who will be waiting for their trials and a detention center for criminals that have been convicted of their crimes. The United States of America has a very high percentage of its population in prison on a global scale and due to this, its prison is also packed with inmates. 

Handling a prison full of convicts is definitely risky especially when most of them are involved in heavy crimes. This can be seen from the previous records of the prisoners that got involved in fights and escape attempts from the prison.

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Some of you might wonder how big some of these prisons can be? Here we would like to share with you the top 7 biggest prisons in the world based on the number of prisoners.

7. Cook Country Prison (6072 prisoners)

This prison has the biggest piece of land in America that hires around 3900 officers to enforce the law in this location. The prison which is located in Illinois started operating in 1831 meaning that it has been running for more than 100 years.

This prison is also home to the biggest mental healthcare center in the United States of America. In general, this prison can fit 6072 prisoners but as time goes by the population has dropped to a few thousand over the past 5 years.

6. Metrowest Detention Center(7050 prisoners)

This detention center was opened in 1987 and it has 2906 staff to make sure the place is up and running as well as enforcing the law. Originally this prison started out as a temporary placement that has 400 beds and comprise a modular trailer and more place buildings were added later on

This prison can occupy 7050 prisoners at one time.

5. Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (8811 prisoners)

This prison got its name in commemoration and reminder of Warden Patrick N. Curran and Vice Warden Robert F. Fromhold who were murdered in Holmesburg prison in 1973.

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Pope Francis visited the prison in 2015 to give a speech and send a message hoping that the prisoners will make a new path toward something better. The prison which started operating in 1995 can fill in 8811 prisoners inside.

4. Maricopa County Prison

Maricopa State Prison is located in Phoenix, Arizona and it is equipped with several facilities. Every group of prisoners will be split up according to one set of classifications related to safety, addiction status, and mental health.

Almost 8000 convicts have gone on a hunger strike in 2017 complaining about the poor quality of the food but the rules state that the food that was given cannot be added with any additional flavor that might go against their faith.

3. Harris County Prison (10,000 Prisoners)

This prison is located in the same complex as Joe Kegan's Prison and this place is well known for its harsh treatment of the health of the prisoners, especially for those who required immediate medical treatment such as people who have diabetes.

The Harris County Prison is also the biggest mental healthcare facility in Texas with almost 1 in 4 of its occupants having a mental illness. In June 2019, this prison has witnessed a plague that requires the isolation of 14 symptomatic individuals and 300 prisoners under quarantine.

2. Rikers Island (13,849 prisoners)

Rikers Island is the main prison complex in New York City and it has a long history of violence happening inside. This prison was established in 1932 and it is close to the LaGuardia airport.

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Even though millions of dollars have been spent on surveillance equipment and proper training to reduce the incidence of violence and brutality, the city might be forced to maintain this prison in a few decades to come due to the high number of convicts.

1. Los Angeles County Prison(19,836 prisoners)

Los Angeles County Prison is the biggest prison system in the United States of America according to the number of inmates. The Los Angeles County Sheriff has spent as much as $798 million to run the prison system. but the prison is still facing the problem of overcrowding.

This prison also has been recorded to be involved in many torture scandals and is well known for its policy of forcing its inmates. The size of the land to accommodate the Los Angeles prison is almost twice the size of Delaware.

Source:

• Daily News

• BBC News

• CNN

• azcentral

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