What are your thoughts when you hear the word “prison”? Does your mind get dominated by images of iron bars, sub-par food, dark hallways, and overall dismay in the air? You can be forgiven to think that way, but not all prisons look like that. There are some prisons around the world that are actually the opposite of what prisons should be.
Here are the 10 most luxurious prisons in the world. They have succeeded in changing the perception many people have about correctional facilities.
10. San Pedro Prison, Bolivia
Though, it is not as luxurious as some of the prisons on this list, definitely a comfortable one. When you see San Pedro Prison, you will wonder whether this is a correctional facility or a community of people forced to move and live together.
Inmates are allowed to make up their own rules and regulations as long as the rules are within reason. By doing this, the prison aims to avoid any tensions and keep the prisoners happy. The inmates have their freedom to lead their life which is a luxury.
Life in San Pedro prison is funny, to some extent, I mean if you think that this is supposed to be a lock-up facility. Prisoners have a right to choose their own leaders and set up the whole neighborhood complete with their families.
The prisoners have their own set rules and methods of punishments as well as means of mediating disputes.
The prison has been a tourist prison for many years.
9. California Prison, USA
This perhaps is America’s most luxurious prison. This facility started to charge inmates a whopping $155 per night to stay in unused jail. The prison decided to make use of this previously unused jail since it was built in 2000.
The jail is quite of an upgrade from the average prison as prisoners get to enjoy various entertainment programs on a widescreen HDTV in addition to gaming tables, bathrooms, cells, beds, and showers.
This new rates, however, does not include room service. Everything else remains the same as at any other prison.
This California prison can accommodate up to 96 prisoners, despite having just 54 beds.
The program, however, is only limited to those convicted of minor offenses who receive prior judicial approval.
8. HMP Berwyn Prison, UK
The HMP Berwyn is located in the UK and is the coziest jail yet in the United Kingdom. Inmates here get a phone, laptop, and shower in their cells.
This correctional facility can hold up to 2,100 inmates who are called “men” instead of prisoners and guards knock first before entering their rooms.
The laptops offered are used to order meals for the whole week, arrange visits, and weekly shopping, and any other tasks connected to their studies.
Each room holds two inmates. Despite having phones and laptops, the gadgets are not connected to the Wi-Fi.
7. Justice Center Leoben, Austria
Justice Center is a picturesque European correctional facility for non-violent offenders. The prison provides each inmate with a single cell, with a kitchenette and bathroom as well as a television. In addition to all that, the prison also features a fully-equipped gym, an outdoor refreshment area, and a basketball court. All these combines would sure make for a considerably cozy sentence.
6. La Catedral, Colombia
La Catedral prison in Colombia was built under the specifications of the former drug lord Pablo Escobar. This prison was built atop foggy mountains to keep the drug lord away from his enemies rather than locking the cocaine kingpin in.
Pablo Escobar agreed on a prison sentence but on his own terms. He constructed a prison so luxurious that it was referred many times as the “Hotel Escobar” or “Club Medellin,” but is long-lasting name has been La Catedral or “The Cathedral.”
The prison had, in addition to many cool things, a Jacuzzi, a football field and a waterfall. La cathedral was more of a fortress than a prison for Pablo Escobar.
Other extravagance things La Catedral had includes a billiards rooms, an industrial kitchen, bars with big-screen TVs as well as a disco where Escobar would host wedding receptions. The feast for the prisoners include caviar, stuffed turkey, smoked trout, and fresh salmon, all while in the company of several beauty queens.
5. Otago Corrections Facility, New Zealand
In the Otago Corrections Facility, security is prime. Despite this, the facility provides prisoners with comfortable cell rooms and focus significantly on change by inmates through skill building. The prison holds several classes in dairy farming, light engineering as well as cooking among other things. The prison facilities effectively strive to rehabilitate the inmates.
Don’t be surprised if that cell phone you are using to read this article came from the Otago Corrections Facility, or that microwave in your kitchen, or jammers. Think of this prison as a factory, rather than a prison.
4. JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, Germany
JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison is one of the oldest prisons in this list, having been built in 1879. Also known as Santa Fu, the prison saw major revamps between 2010 and 2011, updating its look and facilities into ‘world class’ than it used to be before.
The cell rooms are huge, with wood-like painted doors that create a ski chalet vibe. Inmates have couches and coffee tables in their rooms, as long as a private bathroom with showers. The inmates are also allowed to do their own laundry with the help of advanced facilities.
JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison also has a conference room and a recording room. Inmates also receive three-square meals every day along with enjoying dances at the conference room. This is rather a swanky place to carry out your sentence.
The telephone booths are also quite inviting and unlike in average prisons, less troublesome. The telephone corners have huge tables as well as comfortable, expanded chairs for inmates to relax as they wait.
There have been a few escapes from JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, probably because it is so luxurious, but can you imagine anyone risking being put in a normal prison because they were caught trying to escape such a delightful and relax-looking place?
3. HMP Addiewell, Scotland
Her Majesty’s Prison Addiewell is a designated learning prison located in southern Scotland. The prison allocates each of its occupant inmates 40 hours each week for productive skill building. The main objective of HMP Addiewell prison is to help inmates easily transition back to civilian life more fulfilling and purposeful manner. Here, all 700 inmates are in good hands.
Under the management of Sodexo Justice Services, each prisoner is sure to get a chance to transition back to a new life with a different perspective about life.
2. Bastøy Prison, Norway
For many people, the harsh climate of Norway may create a feeling that the whole country feels like a prison. But it is a beautiful country with breathtaking architectures and magnificent alpine range. But there is more, Norway is populated with some of the most luxurious prisons in the world, one of them being Bastøy Prison.
Bastøy Prison is one of the coziest places for prisoners in the world. It just holds 100 inmates. This prison offers its residents a relaxed and low-key stay.
It is a maximum security prison which gives no chance of mass brawls erupting. In contrary, many former inmates claim the place is more of a vocational facility than a prison.
Unlike many of the prisons on this list, in Bastøy prison, each inmate gets to stay on their own private cottages, and enjoy activities such as horseback riding, tennis, skiing across the country, and fishing. These Maldives-like cottages have a place where inmates can just chill under the sun and forget they are even locked up in the first place.
The reason why Bastøy prison sounds like some sort of country cottage is that it is located on an island 2.6 kilometers square off the mainland.
1. Halden Prison, Norway
I told you Norway has a lot of luxurious prisons. We looked at Bastøy prison above, now let’s talk about Halden.
Halden Prison receives inmates from all over the world, and it is one of the largest prisons in Norway. It encompasses artistic and contemporary outdoor areas that exude some Zen feeling about them. The prison has received numerous critical acclaims for its unique living conditions and standards, allowing inmates to participate in all kind of sporting activities. The prison also has a music lab if there is an emcee in the group.
Despite all good things about Halden prison, it is a maximum security prison with all manner of violent criminals from all over the world.
The prison uses safety glass, steel wall, and concrete wall instead of conventional electric fences, towers, or barbed wire.
Here are the 10 most luxurious prisons in the world. They have succeeded in changing the perception many people have about correctional facilities.
10. San Pedro Prison, Bolivia
Though, it is not as luxurious as some of the prisons on this list, definitely a comfortable one. When you see San Pedro Prison, you will wonder whether this is a correctional facility or a community of people forced to move and live together.
Inmates are allowed to make up their own rules and regulations as long as the rules are within reason. By doing this, the prison aims to avoid any tensions and keep the prisoners happy. The inmates have their freedom to lead their life which is a luxury.
Life in San Pedro prison is funny, to some extent, I mean if you think that this is supposed to be a lock-up facility. Prisoners have a right to choose their own leaders and set up the whole neighborhood complete with their families.
The prisoners have their own set rules and methods of punishments as well as means of mediating disputes.
The prison has been a tourist prison for many years.
9. California Prison, USA
This perhaps is America’s most luxurious prison. This facility started to charge inmates a whopping $155 per night to stay in unused jail. The prison decided to make use of this previously unused jail since it was built in 2000.
The jail is quite of an upgrade from the average prison as prisoners get to enjoy various entertainment programs on a widescreen HDTV in addition to gaming tables, bathrooms, cells, beds, and showers.
This new rates, however, does not include room service. Everything else remains the same as at any other prison.
This California prison can accommodate up to 96 prisoners, despite having just 54 beds.
The program, however, is only limited to those convicted of minor offenses who receive prior judicial approval.
8. HMP Berwyn Prison, UK
The HMP Berwyn is located in the UK and is the coziest jail yet in the United Kingdom. Inmates here get a phone, laptop, and shower in their cells.
This correctional facility can hold up to 2,100 inmates who are called “men” instead of prisoners and guards knock first before entering their rooms.
The laptops offered are used to order meals for the whole week, arrange visits, and weekly shopping, and any other tasks connected to their studies.
Each room holds two inmates. Despite having phones and laptops, the gadgets are not connected to the Wi-Fi.
7. Justice Center Leoben, Austria
Justice Center is a picturesque European correctional facility for non-violent offenders. The prison provides each inmate with a single cell, with a kitchenette and bathroom as well as a television. In addition to all that, the prison also features a fully-equipped gym, an outdoor refreshment area, and a basketball court. All these combines would sure make for a considerably cozy sentence.
6. La Catedral, Colombia
La Catedral prison in Colombia was built under the specifications of the former drug lord Pablo Escobar. This prison was built atop foggy mountains to keep the drug lord away from his enemies rather than locking the cocaine kingpin in.
Pablo Escobar agreed on a prison sentence but on his own terms. He constructed a prison so luxurious that it was referred many times as the “Hotel Escobar” or “Club Medellin,” but is long-lasting name has been La Catedral or “The Cathedral.”
The prison had, in addition to many cool things, a Jacuzzi, a football field and a waterfall. La cathedral was more of a fortress than a prison for Pablo Escobar.
Other extravagance things La Catedral had includes a billiards rooms, an industrial kitchen, bars with big-screen TVs as well as a disco where Escobar would host wedding receptions. The feast for the prisoners include caviar, stuffed turkey, smoked trout, and fresh salmon, all while in the company of several beauty queens.
5. Otago Corrections Facility, New Zealand
In the Otago Corrections Facility, security is prime. Despite this, the facility provides prisoners with comfortable cell rooms and focus significantly on change by inmates through skill building. The prison holds several classes in dairy farming, light engineering as well as cooking among other things. The prison facilities effectively strive to rehabilitate the inmates.
Don’t be surprised if that cell phone you are using to read this article came from the Otago Corrections Facility, or that microwave in your kitchen, or jammers. Think of this prison as a factory, rather than a prison.
4. JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, Germany
JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison is one of the oldest prisons in this list, having been built in 1879. Also known as Santa Fu, the prison saw major revamps between 2010 and 2011, updating its look and facilities into ‘world class’ than it used to be before.
The cell rooms are huge, with wood-like painted doors that create a ski chalet vibe. Inmates have couches and coffee tables in their rooms, as long as a private bathroom with showers. The inmates are also allowed to do their own laundry with the help of advanced facilities.
JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison also has a conference room and a recording room. Inmates also receive three-square meals every day along with enjoying dances at the conference room. This is rather a swanky place to carry out your sentence.
The telephone booths are also quite inviting and unlike in average prisons, less troublesome. The telephone corners have huge tables as well as comfortable, expanded chairs for inmates to relax as they wait.
There have been a few escapes from JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison, probably because it is so luxurious, but can you imagine anyone risking being put in a normal prison because they were caught trying to escape such a delightful and relax-looking place?
3. HMP Addiewell, Scotland
Her Majesty’s Prison Addiewell is a designated learning prison located in southern Scotland. The prison allocates each of its occupant inmates 40 hours each week for productive skill building. The main objective of HMP Addiewell prison is to help inmates easily transition back to civilian life more fulfilling and purposeful manner. Here, all 700 inmates are in good hands.
Under the management of Sodexo Justice Services, each prisoner is sure to get a chance to transition back to a new life with a different perspective about life.
2. Bastøy Prison, Norway
For many people, the harsh climate of Norway may create a feeling that the whole country feels like a prison. But it is a beautiful country with breathtaking architectures and magnificent alpine range. But there is more, Norway is populated with some of the most luxurious prisons in the world, one of them being Bastøy Prison.
Bastøy Prison is one of the coziest places for prisoners in the world. It just holds 100 inmates. This prison offers its residents a relaxed and low-key stay.
It is a maximum security prison which gives no chance of mass brawls erupting. In contrary, many former inmates claim the place is more of a vocational facility than a prison.
Unlike many of the prisons on this list, in Bastøy prison, each inmate gets to stay on their own private cottages, and enjoy activities such as horseback riding, tennis, skiing across the country, and fishing. These Maldives-like cottages have a place where inmates can just chill under the sun and forget they are even locked up in the first place.
The reason why Bastøy prison sounds like some sort of country cottage is that it is located on an island 2.6 kilometers square off the mainland.
1. Halden Prison, Norway
I told you Norway has a lot of luxurious prisons. We looked at Bastøy prison above, now let’s talk about Halden.
Halden Prison receives inmates from all over the world, and it is one of the largest prisons in Norway. It encompasses artistic and contemporary outdoor areas that exude some Zen feeling about them. The prison has received numerous critical acclaims for its unique living conditions and standards, allowing inmates to participate in all kind of sporting activities. The prison also has a music lab if there is an emcee in the group.
Despite all good things about Halden prison, it is a maximum security prison with all manner of violent criminals from all over the world.
The prison uses safety glass, steel wall, and concrete wall instead of conventional electric fences, towers, or barbed wire.
