Top 5 Worst Prisons In The US
Published February 4th, 2020
For most of us, the first thing that comes to our minds whenever we hear the word prison is the life inside it. With the walls of it that’s built with aggression and violence, we can’t deny that life behind bars is like a living hell.
We’ve all heard the old saying, “If you can’t do time, don’t do the crime.” But what they didn’t tell us is the terror and inhumane experience that prison life can give you.
These prisons in the US can surely testify to that. These top 5 worst prisons in the US will prove that it’s always best not to involve yourself in any mess.
Julia Tutwiler Prison, Wetumpka, Alabama
Tutwiler prison is a maximum-security prison for women who are mostly in death row. This prison is known for its prison staff, who repeatedly harass and rape its prisoners.
There are many times that the prisoners tried reaching out to the administrators but gave up in the end. According to the inmates, when prisoners file a complaint, they are often placed in isolation as punishment.
Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York
Attica is a super-max prison run by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. This notorious prison is known for its prisoner’s uprising that happened in 1971.
Even after four decades of the brutal prison riot, Attica still operates until now. This prison is still marked as the worst prison condition where prison staff physically and sexually abuse its prisoners.
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San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California
San Quentin State Prison is a high-security prison and is the oldest prison in California. It is known as the home for death row inmates, where it houses more than 3,000 prisoners.
Although it’s only subjective, some say that those inmates that have been convicted with sexual offenses don’t live long inside. They are usually assaulted or killed by their other inmates. That’s why some of them prefer committing suicide than suffer in the violent hands of their co-inmates.
Rikers Island in Queens, New York
Rikers Prison is also known for its abusive prison staff. There are many times that Rikers has been exposed by the Correctional Department itself. In fact, because of the maltreatment of the prison staff, one inmate was tortured and killed. This is one of the biggest scandals that Rikers has been involved in.
According to the investigation, there’s a practice inside Rikers known as “the Program.” This organization is like a cockfight where guards force inmates to pit and fight against each other.
At the time of the scandal, officers who were part of the “The Program” were arrested. However, according to the investigators, the organization is still very much in place.
Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, Leake County, Mississippi
Walnut Grove is a private prison that was shut down in 2016 because of its barbaric treatment to inmates. It was operated by Management and Training Corp., a Utah-based company that is one of the largest private prison contractors in the US.
According to the US Department of Justice report, it was found that older prisoners habitually rape the young prisoners.
It was also found that guards denied some prisoners access to medical care. Smuggling weapons and drugs inside the jail are also common, as well as having sexual relationships of guards with the inmates.
Judge Carlton Reeves of the Federal District Court even wrote about Walnut Grove prison in a 2012 settlement order.
“It paints a picture of such horror as should be unrealized anywhere in the civilized world.”
While there are hundreds, or maybe even thousands of worst prisons in the US, these 5 are the worst of the worst.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the GlobalTel blog. She works hard to ensure her work contains accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources and doesn’t settle for less. Her passion for telling stories about true crime and criminal justice has allowed her to create hundreds of articles that have benefited millions of people.
