Vista Hermosa Prison

In the Detention Center of Ciudad Bolivar, South Venezuela, known as Vista Hermosa prison, the inmates claim that no one "becomes a millionaire as they say in the press."

However, by charging a weekly protection fee of at least USD 17 for each of the 1,096 prisoners, jail leaders have built bars, a multipurpose room, five mobile sound systems (one for each area of the prison), a sale of alcoholic beverages and a video beam to improvise a movie theater. Further, they have overhauled the jail, and even refurbished the area where the administrative offices used to work and turned it into a bunker (with bullet-proof windows and doors, and air conditioning). These facilities are used exclusively by the prison leaders, according to sources of the Ministry of Penitentiary Services.

They also have inflatable castles and pools for children. They hire clowns and buy candies and cakes for children's parties. They buy appliances to raffle off at parties like the one held on Mother's Day. They have betting centers and have even hired drivers to transport their exclusive guests.

"We have fun by playing chess, domino, and with sporting events. Self-management has helped us paint the facilities and murals, and condition areas such as bathrooms. We practice softball and soccer (...) We have not hosted more shows. We did that in the past, two or three years ago," reported prisoners.

Vista Hermosa jail was built in 1950, with a capacity for 650 inmates and today it holds 1,096.