The peculiar and diverse rules of various prisons around the world, ranging from encouraging rehabilitation to bizarre restrictions, reflect the great cultural differences in philosophies of incarceration.
The island-prison of Bastoy in Norway is known for its progressive approach, where inmates, including those convicted of serious crimes, live in conditions that resemble a village rather than a traditional prison.
The facility emphasizes rehabilitation through trust and self-governance, with inmates managing daily operations, including running a ferry service to the mainland. This unique setup prepares inmates for reintegration into society upon release.
In contrast, Spain's Aranjuez prison has come up with an unusual solution for children up to the age of 3 whose parents are both in prison: let the children live in specially designed family cells. This approach aims to maintain the bond between parents and children during the critical first years, providing a healthier environment for young children compared to growing up away from their parents.
In the United States, the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona, under the direction of former sheriff Joe Arpaio, applied a peculiar rule that required inmates to wear pink underwear as a deterrent to theft. This policy, which was part of a series of controversial practices that humiliated inmates, was abandoned after Arpaio left office.
Arpaio's tenure was marked by numerous civil rights complaints, culminating in a presidential pardon from Trump in 2017 after a conviction related to illegal racial profiling practices.
Bolivia's San Pedro prison has another unusual system in which inmates can buy or rent cells, with wealthier inmates having access to better accommodation, reports Grunge.
Pauli Poisuo
In the Philippines, the Cebu Province Detention and Rehabilitation Center has gained international attention for its dance-based rehabilitation program. Initiated to reduce prison violence, inmates are required to attend classes and learn choreographed dances.
While harmony is encouraged in Cebu, Yaroslavl prison in Russia shows the harsh side of imprisonment, with new inmates subjected to a brutal practice where they are taken into a room and beaten by prison guards to the sound of heavy metal. This violent practice has already led to the death of several prisoners within hours of their arrival and to lawsuits against guards for murder and torture.
Finally, Texas had a unique policy for women in solitary confinement, requiring them to wear white lab coats, a practice not applied to male inmates and criticized for having no clear justification beyond potential humiliation. This policy was abandoned in 2023.
