United States of America houses the world’s most secure prison in the world – ADX Florence. Most other prisons in the United States are equally secure and highly guarded with latest technologies. Apart from the United States, other countries like France, England, India, China and Syria have prisons that are notorious for its security measures and a prefect track-record. Famous and the most dangerous criminals are housed in these prisons. How do these prisons guard some of the world’s most notorious criminals? What security measures are in place? The answer is below.
Let’s check out the list of top ten most secure prisons in the world that are tough to escape:
10. HM Prison Belmarsh, England
HM Prison Belmarsh is often called as the “British version of Guantanamo Bay“. The Belmarsh jail holds the most dangerous prisoners from all over the United Kingdom. Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons says that the prison holds “exceptional risk category A prisoners” and they are held in “dark and oppressive” conditions. In November 2009, an inspection report from Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons criticised the “extremely high” amount of force used to control inmates at the prison.
9. Tadmor Military Prison, Syria
Tadmor Prison is a notorious prison in the deserts of eastern Syria. Originally, the prison was built as military barracks by the French Mandate forces. The prison has only one entry point which is also made as an underground tunnel, making it extremely difficult to escape from this prison. The prison is known for harsh conditions, extensive human rights abuse and executions. The motto of this prison was only one – the prisoners should never escape this prison even in their dreams.
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8. United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, United States
Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute consists of two facilities: Federal Correctional Institution, Terre Haute (FCI Terre Haute) and United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute (USP Terre Haute). The United States Penitentiary is the high-security prison that houses dangerous criminals whereas Federal Correctional Institution is a medium-security prison holding inmates who are deemed to require increased monitoring of communications with others. The prison is highly guarded and secured. Apart from its high-security features, the prison also provides other extraordinary facilities to its inmates.
7. Camp Delta, Cuba
Camp Delta at Guantamamo Bay in Cuba is a permanent American detainment camp. The construction of the camp costed $17.5 million that opened in 2004. The camp is designed as a super-max facility similar to the prison in Terre Haute. The camp is known to possess small, secret, and ultra-high-security facility like the Camp seven. The prison is extremely difficult to escape because even if a prisoner manages to escape the high-security walls he would end up in an American military base. Few carefully designed cells in Camp six and seven prevent prisoners from guessing their orientation. It also keeps prisoners in isolation from each other. Most of the security forces are U.S. Army military police, and U.S. Navy Masters-at-Arms.
6. Qincheng Prison, China
Qincheng Prison in China is one of the most secure prisons in Asia. Qincheng Prison in Changping District, Beijing is a maximum security prison that was built-in 1958 with aid from the Soviet Union. Electric fences and 5-meter high thick walls along with most number of watchtowers in the world adds on to the security of the prison. Over 5,000 security personnel ensure that the criminals are locked in the prison all time. The notorious prison is located at about 3,000 meters above the sea level surrounded by mountains and dense forests leaving the inmates impossible to escape this prison.
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5. Arthur Road Jail, India
Mumbai Central Prison is known as the Arthur Road Jail, which is the oldest and largest prison in Mumbai. This prison is no joke as it is one of the most secure prison in the world and in India. The jail possesses advanced security features and measures. The prison maintains the record that no one has ever managed to break-out from this place and also no one has ever been able to break-in to the jail. The jail has a maximum capacity of 800, but more than 2000 prisoners occupy leading to human-rights speculations. The jail boasts that even a missile will not be able to break its walls.
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4. Fuchu Prison, Japan
Fuchu Prison is one of the largest prisons in Japan. As of December 2015, Fuchu Prison was the largest prison in Japan, housing 2086 prisoners. Fuchu Prison is also known for its hi-tech security capabilities. Fuchu Prison is one of the well-guarded prisons in the world. The prison houses some of the most notorious criminals from Japan and abroad. The prison opened in the year 1935. Before the end of World War II, Fuchu prison held Communist leaders, members of banned religious sects, and leaders of the Korean independence movement. Nobody has ever escaped Fuchu Prison and the security features in the prison is a well-guarded secret of the Japanese government.
3. Alcatraz Island Prison, United States
Alcatraz Island Prison is surrounded on all sides by water making it extremely unimaginable to escape. Even if someone manages to escape the prison would die drowning in the rough sea. Alcatraz Island is located in the San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Only 5 inmates have ever managed to escape the prison who are presumed to be dead. This tough prison shut down in 1968, but still the prison is believed to be one of the most difficult to escape. Before 1968, the island housed a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison (1868), and a federal prison.
2. La Sante Prison, France
La Sante Prison in France is second most secure prison in the world. It is one of the most famous prisons in France, with both VIP and high-security wings. La Sante Prison is simple with its security measures yet effective making it impossible to escape. Sometime back, couple of hundred inmates attempted to escape the prison through a sewage pipe. Even the sewage pipe in this prison was locked down – they not only failed but few of them suffocated to death. Ever since then, this prison is believed to be one of the most difficult to break-out.
1. ADX Florence, United States
ADX Florence is the most secure prison in the world. The United States Penitentiary, ADX (Administrative Maximum Facility), is a supermax prison which houses the most dangerous male inmates. The extremely secure and hi-tech prison houses some of the most dangerous criminals from around the world. The prison is highly inescapable, monitored with the latest technology surveillance systems and equipments. The supermax cells in the prison are sound-proofed to avoid prisoners contacting with each other using Morse code. The clever windows design prevents inmates from knowing their specific location within the complex because they can see only the sky and roof through them, making it virtually impossible to plan an escape. The tight security control measures and facilities within the prison and outside makes the prison a remarkable wonder.