All prisons are terrible places to be. There are some prisons, however, that trump all the rest. Places where inmates are stabbed and beaten on a daily basis. Places where prisoners have no human contact and are only allowed to leave their cells for minutes each day. These are the worst prisons in America.
4) Maricopa County, Tent City – Phoenix, Arizona
Built with old Korean War materials, Tent City was created as a thrifty expansion to the Maricopa County Jail in 1993. The tent prison holds roughly 2,000 inmates. It may seem like a welcome change from the cramped confines of a cell, but the intense Arizona heat causes the tents to reach maximums of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Prisoners are allowed to de-robe to their underwear, but everyone is required by the warden to wear pink undergarments.
3) Rikers Island Prison – Rikers Island, New York
Rikers is notorious for prisoner violence, with many inmates claiming it to be much worse than the most hazardous New York streets. As the name suggests, Rikers is built on an island, and is essentially impenetrable. Back in the 1990s, this prison was a hotbed for stabbings, beatings, and murders. Due to recent reforms, Rikers has adopted much stricter policies. SWAT teams quell riots and search cells for makeshift shanks on a daily basis. Many prisoners feel the need to defend themselves, but if they are found with a weapon, their sentence is extended.
2) San Quentin Prison – San Quentin, California
San Quentin is a harsh and constantly dangerous place because it holds California’s most violent offenders. This prison has many claims to fame. Charles Manson once called it home, Johnny Cash played a famous concert there in 1969, and it is the birthplace of the Aryan Brotherhood gang. San Quentin employs an enormous staff of over 1,500 in order to maintain control over the vicious prisoners.
1) ADX Florence Supermax Facility – Florence, Colorado
In 1963, ADX was built to replace the infamous Alcatraz Prison, and in many ways it’s even worse than its predecessor. This prison is based on isolation and seclusion. Prisoners are only allowed out of their 100% concrete cells for nine hours each week. There are also intentionally limited amounts of sunlight and almost no human interaction. ADX is a prison that breaks inmates down mentally rather than physically.
If you are facing serious charges that could land you in prison, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced Criminal Defense Attorney who can help you through the legal maze and keep you out of places like these.
Related Sources:
Askmen.com
Toptenz.net
