El Salvador
Date
21.01.13
Information
The Penas Ciudad Barrios is a maximum security prison for members of the Mara Salvatrucha Gang, or MS, in the South of El Salvador. It was built for 800 inmates and now house's over 2500. The prison is practically run internally by the gang who have organised a bakery, basic rehabilitation and are even left to run the hospital.
As you enter the prison you soon realise that there are no guards around. They only stay on the outside and let the gang run the joint, which they do very well given the conditions. On hand to help the guards are the army who man most of the sentry points
For almost a year now there has been a truce between the the gangs in El Salvador, the MS and the 18 Street gang or B 18. As the leaders of MS are mainly incarcerated at the prison it has become a focus of the negotiations.
As you enter the prison you soon realise that there are no guards around. They only stay on the outside and let the gang run the joint, which they do very well given the conditions. On hand to help the guards are the army who man most of the sentry points
For almost a year now there has been a truce between the the gangs in El Salvador, the MS and the 18 Street gang or B 18. As the leaders of MS are mainly incarcerated at the prison it has become a focus of the negotiations.
Inmate at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios.
Carlos Tiberio Valladares, one of the leaders of the MS gang at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios.
Inmate at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios.
One of the communal cells at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios. 70 inmates live in cells designed for 20. They have to hang many of the beds from the ceilling as there is no more floor space.
An inmate working out in the gym
Inmate at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios.
One of the communal cells at the Centro Preventivo y de Cumplimiento de Penas Ciudad Barrios. 70 inmates live in cells designed for 20. They have to hang many of the beds from the ceilling as there is no more floor space.
Inmates playing chess next to a mural to dead gang members.
The inmates have built up there own gym with equipment both donated and made themselves.
A cut knuckle from the punch bag in the gym. Working out here and playing football in the main courtyard is the only form of exercise the inmate can get.
The so called hospital at the prison. There was a bout of chickenpox going during our visit and those with it were quarantined there. Several HIV inmate have died through lack of anti-virals. El Salvador
A Johovas Witness service which is held everyday at the prison. The pastor leading the congregation is also an MS inmate.
