While serving a prison sentence is not meant to be luxurious, some prisons are equipped with simple inmate privileges such as access to recreation fields, gyms, sports equipment, and hearty meals.
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The prison lifestyle is not meant to be torturous, with conditions below those of human concern. However, some of the most dangerous prisons in the US have the most shocking incidents.
The most dangerous prisons in the US have proven that prisons are not an ideal place to spend time. They are a place not just for the punishment conditions in which the inmates live but also for themselves. If a place has taken responsibility to correct a person, they should abide by this.
15 Most dangerous Prisons in US and famous prisoners they hosted
There are several reasons why a facility may be considered dangerous. This may include uncontrolled violence, staff abuse, and medical neglect. So what are the most dangerous prisons in America? According to the USA By Numbers, these are the most problematic correctional facilities in the United States:
- United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility
Location: Fremont County, near Florence, Colorado
Security-class: Administrative Maximum
Population: 343
Famous inmates: Zacarias Moussaoui, Khalfan Mohamed, Umar Abdulmutallab, and Sulaiman Abu Ghaith
Commonly known as the ADX, United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility is one of the worst maximum-security prisons in the United States. It has three correctional facilities: level II, level V, and Level Vi.
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ADX has experienced some of the worst prison riots in USA history. In 1980, the innate took over the prison taking 12 officers hostage while killing 33 inmates. Over the years, inmates have filed uncountable class-action lawsuits about extreme and unnatural punishment at ADX.
- Twin Towers Correctional Facility
Location: Los Angeles, California
Security-class: Minimum–Maximum
Capacity: 5,276
Population: 4,300
Famous inmates: Chris Brown, Suge Knight, Tommy Lee, Ron Jeremy, and Edward Furlong
Twin Towers Correctional Facility is considered a bigger and more threatening facility in the United States. It is home to some of the world’s worst criminals, and with the increased population, criminal rates to go up by the day.
For instance, in 2016, the Los Angeles, California County Sheriff, Lee Baca, quit his job after everyone, especially the guards, received a thorough beating from the inmates. In addition, Lee Baca’s undersheriff, Paul Tanaka, was imprisoned for keeping such awful violence in secrecy.
- Holman Correctional Facility
Location: Escambia County, Alabama
Security-class: Maximum security
Capacity: 1,002
Famous inmates: Henry Francis Hays, Thomas Warren Whisenhunt, Bobby Frank Cherry and James Emery Paster
Holman Correctional Facility is one of the most dangerous prisons in the United States. The prison is famous for its repeated stabbings and deadly muggings between the inmates. The facility has earned nicknames such as The Slaug*terhouse and House of Pain for these reasons.
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For instance, in March 2016, there was a bloodbath spillover where the inmates rebelled and stabbed a guard. When Carter Davenport, the-then warden, responded, he was stabbed too. In addition, they set the dorm on fire while guarding the hallways.
- United States Penitentiary Beaumont
Location: Jefferson County, near Beaumont, Texas
Security-class: High-security
Population: 1,328
Famous inmates: Adley Abdulwahab, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, Shukri Baker, and Willis Mark Haynes
The United States Penitentiary Beaumont is considered one of the most dangerous prisons due to the number of murder plots in the facility. Even though it is a maximum-security prison, the inmates plan out killing, as witnessed in 2007 and 2008.
For instance, on 28th November 2007, correction officers were stabbed with homemade prison knives and the inmates to their cell keys. On 12th February 2008, the body of a 29-year-old inmate was discovered in one of the cells. While on 31st January 2022, there emerged multiple gang-affiliated inmate fights.
- San Quentin State Prison
Location: San Quentin, California, U.S.
Security-class: Minimum-maximum
Capacity: 3082
Population: 3,776
Famous inmates: Isauro Aguirre, Vincent brothers, Kevin Cooper, Louise Crane and Roger Kibbe
San Quentin State Prison is one of the worst places for inmates across the globe. The main reason behind this is that most of the inmates are detained here after committing the worst brutalities.
The facility has a gas chamber, but since 1996, executions have been carried out through lethal injection. However, none has taken place since 2006. The prison has been featured in numerous movies, radio dramas, podcasts, videos and TV shows.
- Orleans Parish Prison
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Status: Operational
Capacity: 1438
Population: 1524
Famous inmates: State Senator Troy E. Brown
Orleans Parish Prison is one of the most dangerous prisons in the world. Unfortunately, just like many other dangerous facilities, the situation is made worse by the staff. The correctional officers have been found guilty of ignoring inmate violence and crime.
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For instance, in 2012, 23 inmates were sent to the emergency room in a single month after suffering critical injuries. All these resulted from violent fights, which the correctional officers at the facility primarily ignored.
- Penitentiary Of New Mexico
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Security-class: Maximum security
Population: 790
Famous inmates: Terry Clark
The PNM is known as one with the most rampageous prison riots in the account till now. At one point, men were slaug*tered during the night, dissected, and quickly burned after. The majority of these men were child molesters.
It has three facilities Level V (opened 1985), Level VI (opened 1985) and Level II (opened 1990). In addition, new Mexico’s Death Row is contained in the Level VI Supermax site. However, there have been no further executions since 2009.
- Louisiana State Penitentiary
Location: Louisiana
Security-class: Maximum security
Population: 6,300
Famous inmates: Gerald James Bordelon, Elmo Patrick Sonnier, Frank Lee Morris, and Andrew Lee Jones
The Louisiana State Penitentiary is also known as the Alcatraz of the south. It is notorious for comprehensive violence and exploitation of inmates. The American Bar Association once described the facility as an emergency state.
In addition, the facility has a reported history of sexual slavery dating from early 1960. Riots are a regular occurrence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary hence the reason it is considered one of the most dangerous facilities. The last riot took place in 1999 when six inmates held the correctional officer’s hostage.
- Folsom State Prison
Location: Folsom, California, US.
Security-class: Minimum-medium
Capacity: 2,066
Population: 2,694 Famous inmates: Joseph Barboza, Edward Bunker, George Contact, and Erik Menendez
Folsom State Prison is maximum security with a long record of gang violence. The most frequent crimes entail fights between opposing groups, resulting in injured inmates and correctional officers. After all, California has to deal with high levels of violence, corruption, and security compared to other states.
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In 1937 several inmates tried to escape with knives and wooden Tommy guns. Two of them were executed during the process while a guard and warden died of wounds. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the facility hit the highest recorded violent crimes.
- Rikers Island Prison
Location: The Bronx, New York City
Security-class: Maximum security
Capacity: 15,000
Population: 10,000 Famous inmates: Eugene Castelle, Rolando Perez, Jerome Murdough and Bradley Ballard
Rikers Island is one of the worst state prisons in America. The facility is characterized by inmate violence, staff brutality and abuse of the mentally ill and adolescents. The jail mostly holds local offenders, those who couldn’t post bail, and anyone serving a sentence of one year or less or waiting for a transfer.
For instance, in 2008, Christopher Robinson, an 18-year-old inmate, was beaten and stomped to death in his cell. Upon further investigations, it was discovered that the correctional facility officers were part of the violence. Two of them pleaded guilty to assault and other charges concerning the murder.
- Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Location: Ossining, New York
Security-class: Maximum security
Capacity: 1,747
Population: 1,576 Famous inmates: George Appo, Paul Geidel, Leroy Keith, Norman Royce and Willis Sutton
The correctional facility is famous for numerous routine deaths of inmates at the Sing Sing’s electric chair, commonly known as the Old Sparky. Since the prison was established, over 614 men and women have been executed here.
Some of the most unforgettable cases include the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg back in the 50s for surveillance and serial killer Albert Fish, who was sent to the electric chair. They ate a 10-year-old back in the 30s.
- Attica Prison
Location: Attica, New York, U.S.
Security-class: Maximum security
Capacity: 2253
Famous inmates: Mark David Chapman, Colin Ferguson, Sam Melville, Willie Sutton, and El Sayyid Nosair
The Attica Prison is one of the most dangerous prisons in the United States and across the globe. The facility has had a lengthy history of madmen who have served their sentences there. The level of danger at this facility results from the type of inmates and their behaviour there.
In 1971, the facility’s upheaval was the worst prison riot in US history. Prisoners were so sick of being badly treated that they decided to riot harder. Forty-three people were executed, including the 39 killed in the invasion. In addition, security guard William Quinn and three inmates were killed by other inmates early in the riot.
- Ely State Prison
Location: White Pine County, Nevada,
Security-class: Maximum security
Capacity: 1,150
Population: 1,125 Famous inmates: Darren Mack, Coyote Acabo, Ike Ibeabuchi, Jose Vigoa, and Chester Stiles
The Ely State Prison is located in the middle of nowhere, making it one of the most private and rural facilities in the United States. Unfortunately, its location is one of the reasons why it is considered one of the most dangerous prisons.
For instance, the facility let one diabetic inmate pass away after failing to provide him insulin for three days. In response to reported mistreatment and psychological intimidation, prisoners staged a 2010 riot that led to severe injuries to inmates and guards, including stab wounds and head trauma.
- United States Penitentiary Pollock
Location: Grant Parish near Pollock, Louisiana
Security-class: High-security (with minimum-security prison camp)
Capacity: 1,243
Famous inmates: Chimene Onyeri, Ricky Mungia, Dawayne Brown, and Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari
Even though the United States Penitentiary Pollock is run and managed by the United States federal government, it is still one of the most dangerous prisons. Most of the staff are Southerners known for their lack of tolerance, hospitality, and friendliness.
The facility experiences more killing than those taking place in the outside world. Since 2007, more than three deaths have ended up unresolved in prison. However, it is alleged that the number could be even more. Several inmates serving out life sentences do not make the place any better.
- Pelican Bay State Prison
Location: Crescent City, Del Norte County, California
Security-class: Super-max
Capacity: 2,380
Population: 2,112 Famous inmates: Hugo Pinell, Damian Williams, Charles Manson, and Ricardo Medina Jr
Over the years, the Pelican Bay State Prison has experienced some of the worst gang activities globally. Furthermore, most gang members are sent to this facility to serve their time. Unfortunately, they continue their bad behavior while still in prison in most cases.
The facility’s administrators have tried almost everything to resist gang violence. They have tried the likes of solitary imprisonment to no avail. Instead, the prison caught inmates leading substance cartels that are the basis for violent infringements. Many assaults are aimed at staff members or even prosecutors.
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The most dangerous prisons in the US have some of the most shocking incidents. While some of them have been considered organized and well-managed, others have issues of overcrowding, gang defilements, diseases, and different forms of physical abuse.
