From Norway to California and from Russia to New Hampshire, there are an array of elegant jails with stunning architecture and magical locations. When thinking about prison, you imagine iron bars, sub-par food, dark hallways, and dismal surroundings. You can be forgiven for such dark musings, but not all prisons are like that. Here are some of the most luxurious prisons in the world:
New Zealand’s Otago Corrections Facility
While tight security measures are in place, Otago provides inmates with comfortable cells and believes in change through imparting skill training . Classes in dairy farming, light engineering, and cooking, among others are conducted at Otago for effective rehabilitation.
Austria’s Justice Center Leoben
This facility gives each prisoner their individual cell with an attached kitchenette, private bathroom and a TV. Adding amenities are outdoor recreation areas, an enjoyable weight-room, and a basketball court.
Switzerland’s Chillon Castle
This ancient castle in the Lake Geneva area, served many functions, with its dramatic setting against a stormy sky. This castle gorgeous architecturally, has been a medieval fort, prison, and military enforcement station, besides being a private residence, serving summer needs set amidst the Alps. This attraction boasts a moat and a visit is worth the time given.
Spain’s Aranjuez Prison
Correctional facilities usually rip families apart, but this innovative institution enables infant children to live with their incarcerated parents. Aranjuez enables incarcerated parents to not sacrifice their parenthood despite their circumstances and has cribs, Disney characters etchings on walls, and a play area. It helps give parents back to those who are too young to comprehend the reality of imprisonment.
UK’s HMP Berwyn Prison
This cosiest jail in U K where inmates get a laptop, phone, and shower in their cells. This correctional facility can host 2,100 inmates called “men” instead of prisoners and guards knock prior to entering rooms. Laptops arrange visits and are used to order meals for the whole week, weekly shopping, and other tasks connected to their studies. Each room has two inmates. Despite phones and laptops, Wi-Fi connections are lacking.
Indonesia’s Pondok Bambu Prison
Pondok Bambu is a women’s facility equipped with refrigerators, air-conditioners, nail salons, karaoke machines and where a luxurious lifestyle comes at a price for corruption. The garden-complex prison, full of sculptures has recreational classes and beauty treatments to make this prison, undeniably comfortable.
Norway’s Bastøy Prison
Norway has the most luxurious prisons in the world, including the cosy Bastøy maximum security jail which houses only 100 inmates, and ensures its residents, a low-key, relaxed stay with virtually zero chance of any mass brawl erupting. Former inmates say that Bastøy is more a vocational facility than a prison as each inmate stays in their own private Maldives-like cottages, enjoying activities such as tennis, skiing across the country, horseback riding, and fishing. Inmates just chill under the sun and forget about being locked up for crimes.
Switzerland’s Champ-Dollon Prison
Earlier infamous for overcrowding, the refurbished Champ-Dollon prison residences boast of spacious triple-occupancy rooms with attached bathrooms. Such ample facilities allow convicts to feel less prisoner-like and instead think of themselves living in university dorms! Here, inmates work together towards their own rehabilitation.
Germany’s JVA Fuhlsbuettel Prison
This is a luxurious, comfortable prison complex for longer serving inmates. The prison was renovated and was reopened in 2011 with spacious cells containing a bed, couch, and fascinating combo- shower and toilet and also a mini-conference room.