Two prisons, El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) and Alabama’s William C. Holman Correctional Facility, highlight extreme prison conditions in different parts of the world.

CECOT, built in 2023, houses up to 40,000 inmates, focusing on violent criminals and gang members. Despite its high security, conditions are brutal—overcrowded cells, poor sanitation, and oppressive heat. Human rights groups criticize it as inhumane. Controversy increased when President Bukele proposed accepting U.S. deportees, including U.S. citizens, to alleviate U.S. prison overcrowding.

In contrast, Holman, built in 1969, is plagued by overcrowding, violence, and understaffing, with dangerous conditions worsened by extreme heat. Holman is notorious for its violent environment and role as Alabama’s execution site. Recent executions have sparked criticism, especially the use of nitrogen hypoxia, raising concerns over its humanity.

Both prisons illustrate global issues with overcrowding, understaffing, and harsh conditions, drawing attention to the treatment of inmates and the future of incarceration systems.