An inside look at the world's most feared institutions, from ancient and medieval up to the Bangkok Hilton and Abu Ghraib.

A captivating history of doing time throughout the centuries: from England’s medieval dungeons to America’s supermax detention facilities. The first prisons were castle hellholes, places of neglect, oblivion, and slow death. Every civilization has had its dissenters, deviants, and political offenders, and so prisons became essential to the retention of power. As the centuries passed, and prisons were needed for other reprobates—such as debtors and common thieves—legal systems across the world began to cater to a growing variety of prisoners, and the business of incarceration began. Notorious Prisons of the World traces this development, from the state prisons of Athens and Rome, to the birth of the houses of correction and the penitentiary. Stephen Wade tells fascinating stories of the infamous penal colonies and state prisons across the stage of world history, from Alcatraz and Devil’s Island to the fortress of Colditz, and from the Siberian gulags to the massive super jails sprouting across modern America. He also shares the stories of inmates and staff, political regimes, and the rise and fall of empires, all seen through the prison walls. In doing so, Wade throws light on the state-structured punishments which have stripped away individual freedoms. Sometimes with a degree of humanitarian concern, and sometimes through sheer barbarism.

inmates and the unique dynamics of each perilous environment. The narrative takes readers on a journey across continents, exploring the chilling atmospheres of maximum-security prisons that have gained notoriety for their formidable reputation. Through vivid storytelling, the book paints a detailed picture of life behind bars, depicting the struggles, dangers, and human stories that unfold within the confines of these formidable institutions. Each chapter of the book is a standalone tale, focusing on a different dangerous prison and its distinctive challenges. From high-security facilities notorious for housing the most dangerous criminals to prisons plagued by corruption and violence, the narratives are both enlightening and disturbing. Readers are immersed in the stark realities faced by inmates, shedding light on the impact of incarceration on individuals and the broader society. The book doesn't merely recount the harsh conditions and dangers within these prisons but also explores the systemic issues that contribute to their notoriety. It delves into the socio-political and economic factors that underpin the existence of these dangerous institutions, raising questions about the efficacy of punitive measures and the possibilities for reform.

This singular history of a prison, and the queer women and trans people held there, is a window into the policing of queerness and radical politics in the twentieth century. The Women's House of Detention, a landmark that ushered in the modern era of women's imprisonment, is now largely forgotten. But when it stood in New York City's Greenwich Village, from 1929 to 1974, it was a nexus for the tens of thousands of women, transgender men, and gender-nonconforming people who inhabited its crowded cells. Some of these inmates--Angela Davis, Andrea Dworkin, Afeni Shakur--were famous, but the vast majority were incarcerated for the crimes of being poor and improperly feminine. Today, approximately 40 percent of the people in women's prisons identify as queer; in earlier decades, that percentage was almost certainly higher. Historian Hugh Ryan explores the roots of this crisis and reconstructs the little-known lives of incarcerated New Yorkers, making a uniquely queer case for prison abolition--and demonstrating that by queering the Village, the House of D helped defined queerness for the rest of America. From the lesbian communities forged through the Women's House of Detention to the turbulent prison riots that presaged Stonewall, this is the story of one building and much more: the people it caged, the neighborhood it changed, and the resistance it inspired.

Incarceration has a long and inglorious history, from dungeons in the bowels of castles to oppressive penal colonies in Australia. Karen Farrington brings this history up to the 21st century, exploring some of the world's worst prisons, from Alcatraz to Pollsmoor, and the unending battles that rage between convicts and warders. Inside the prison walls, gangs rule, guards devise sadistic punishments, and newcomers suffer abuse at the hands of experienced tormentors. The World's Worst Prisons is packed with shocking accounts of prison breakouts, drug smuggling and life on death row. It also explores the politics of incarceration, including the harsh labour camps of North Korea and controversies surrounding private management of prisons. With prison populations rising each year, questions surrounding incarceration are all the more pertinent. Whether focusing on punishment, containment or rehabilitation, the prison system is imperfect and The World's Worst Prisons examines this dysfunction through some of the most dangerous jails on earth.

Incarceration has a long and inglorious history, from dungeons in the bowels of castles to oppressive penal colonies in Australia. Karen Farrington brings this history up to the 21st century, exploring some of the world's worst prisons, from Alcatraz to Devil's Island, and the unending battles that rage between convicts and warders. Inside the prison walls, gangs rule, guards devise sadistic punishments and newcomers suffer abuse at the hands of experienced tormentors. The World's Worst Prisons is packed with shocking accounts of prison breakouts, drug smuggling and life on death row. It also explores the politics of incarceration, including the harsh labor camps of North Korea and controversies surrounding private management of prisons. With prison populations rising each year, questions surrounding incarceration are all the more pertinent. Whether focusing on punishment, containment or rehabilitation, the prison system is imperfect and The World's Worst Prisons examines this dysfunction through some of the most dangerous jails on earth.

Thomas Jefferson developed the idea for the Virginia State Penitentiary and set the standard for the future of the American prison system. Designed by U.S. Capitol and White House architect Benjamin Latrobe, the "Pen" opened its doors in 1800. Vice President Aaron Burr was incarcerated there in 1807 as he awaited trial for treason. The prison endured severe overcrowding, three fires, an earthquake and numerous riots. More than 240 prisoners were executed there by electric chair. At one time, the ACLU called it the "most shameful prison in America." The institution was plagued by racial injustice, eugenics experiments and the presence of children imprisoned among adults. Join author Dale Brumfield as he charts the 190-year history of the iconic prison.