The World's Worst Prisons: Inside Stories from the most Dangerous Jails on Earth

by Karen Farrington

In some of the world's harshest prisons, from Alcatraz to Pollsmoor, an unending battle rages between convicts and warders. Inside the prison walls, gangs rule, guards devise sadistic punishments, and newcomers suffer abuse at the hands of experienced tormentors. From overcrowding in Nairobi to drug smuggling in Sao Paolo to the harsh labour camps of North Korea, The World's Worst Prisons reveals what life behind bars is really like.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2019

About the author

Karen Farrington is a former journalist who has contributed to numerous publications on military history. She has also written extensively on assassinations, natural disasters, & religion.

Reviews

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a high quality audio. The narrator did well with the factual information. The title in big letter the worlds worst prisons and tgen underneath stiries from sadly for did not teflect the real nature of this. The chapters were in the wrong order and the stories were a very small part . This tried to give too much insight into prison life . It did add human stories but these were not enough to carry off the title. Also the info was on prisons in general there was info on the worlds worst prisons but it convered prisons in feneral. The title was wrong gor me . I think yhus would work wrll as a series.
This would appeal to anyone who would like to kniw more about orison life and some human stories. This is not balanced but a good attempt 3.5 stars. Thanks netgallery and publisher and narrator for this insight a change in title would have improved my experience

[Daniel Lang · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The World's Worst Prisons: Inside Stories from the Most Dangerous Jails on Earth" by Karen Farrington offers a gripping exploration into some of the most notorious prisons globally, providing readers with a voyeuristic glimpse into the harsh realities of incarceration. Farrington's journalistic approach presents a mix of facts, anecdotes, and firsthand accounts, creating a narrative that can be both compelling and disconcerting.

The strength of the book lies in its ability to shed light on the extreme conditions within certain prisons, exposing the challenges faced by inmates and the often-flawed systems governing them. The inclusion of personal stories adds a human element to the narrative, allowing readers to empathize with the individuals experiencing these dire circumstances.

However, the sensationalized nature of the content might be a turn-off for some readers. Farrington's focus on the most extreme and dangerous prisons could be seen as exploitative, catering to a morbid curiosity about the darkest corners of the penal system. The book might lack a more balanced exploration of the broader issues within the criminal justice system, contributing to a potentially one-sided portrayal.

Additionally, the book occasionally lacks a deeper analysis of the socio-political factors contributing to the grim state of these prisons. A more comprehensive examination of the systemic issues surrounding incarceration could have added depth to the narrative.

In conclusion, "The World's Worst Prisons" serves as a voyeuristic exploration into the dark side of the global penal system. Readers intrigued by true crime and prison narratives may find it engaging, but those seeking a more nuanced and balanced discussion on the complexities of criminal justice might be left wanting. The book offers a surface-level introduction to the world's most dangerous prisons, but it may not satisfy those looking for a deeper exploration of the underlying issues.

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and entertaining read. I appreciated the fact that it looked at incarcaration as a whole and explored lots of aspects of prison life. It doesn't go into very much depth about any of the topics but it works well as a jumping off point.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Lydi-Marie Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a lot of insights to all sorts of criminal justice systems, prisons, gang life etc

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read, but was repetitive when talking about various prisons throughout the world. Similar conditions, inmate behavior, etc.

[Diana · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had such inaccurate information about some of the gang histories. Some of the content did not make sense due to the grammatical errors.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Small stories that weren’t personal. Even though it had chapters the stories in the chapters didn’t fit well together.

[Tyler Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was a bit of a dreary subject, it made for a very interesting read. I had no idea prisoners had access to cell phones so easily as well as drone deliveries!? My mind is blown. Farrington does a great job at laying out the complexities and difficulties of prison life. My only complaint is that I wish she would’ve wrote more and gone even deeper. I do appreciate her acknowledgement of a broken system and the issues she raised regarding overcrowding, rehabilitation, mental health and recidivism. She really took a human approach to the topic. The hardest section to read was definitely the death penalty chapter. It really made me think of that quote from The Green Mile, “I’m tired of people being ugly to each other.” It made me wonder if the ends justify the means. Then I also got envious of some of the death row inmates’ last meals, thought about how their victims didn’t get to choose their last meal, and the rage started again. I will admit the moral dilemma of the death penalty is very much alive and thriving within me. I go back and forth a lot in my feelings on that and Farrington does a great job at laying out each side of that topic as well as every facet of prison life. If you’re interested in prisons, correctional facilities, illegal activities or the more gruesome aspects of life, this book is for you.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this book is rather misleading. I expected it to be an expose of sorts, going over (as the title implies) the worlds worst prisons. Instead the book is a generic overview of prisons, the history of prisons, the problems in prisons, and often way too long specific examples of individuals in prison and how they landed in prison (which is entirely irrelevant to the subject at hand). I think I’d be less disappointed in the book if it had been more honest about what it was going to be about. Instead, as an intro course to prisons generally, it was mediocre at best.

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at prisons across the world from their past to the present day.

This was an interesting read and pretty harrowing at times. The book looks at conditions, gangs, riots and life in general in the various prisons. It also covers executions and a few quotes from prisoners before dying which was quite interesting.

[Lydi-Marie Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a lot of details on many countries criminal justice systems with insights on the prisoners and officers as well as drug gangs, serial killers and more!