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Luisa Vieira

The Graphic Truth: How does El Salvador's prison rate stack up?

El Salvador made headlines in recent days after President Nayib Bukele released photos of gang members being corralled into the country’s new mega-prison – a sprawling complex that will eventually hold 40,000 inmates. It’s the latest development in Bukele’s massive – and very popular – crackdown on gangs, in which Salvadoran authorities have locked up almost 2% of the adult population. (Never mind that US officials have recently accused Bukele of colluding with the very gangs he says he’s trying to stamp out!) El Salvador now has the highest prison rate per 100,000 people in the world – but how does that compare globally? Here we take a look at the countries with the highest official prison rates.

Release of notorious child rapist sparks outrage in South Korea

December 13, 2020 5:00 AM

South Korea's most notorious child rapist was pelted with eggs by an angry crowd who called for him to be castrated when he was released from prison yesterday after serving 12 years behind bars.

Public anger erupts as South Korea's most notorious child rapist is released after 12 years in jail

December 12, 2020 6:26 PM

SEOUL - South Korea's most notorious child rapist was pelted with eggs by an angry crowd who called for him to be castrated when he was released from prison on Saturday (Dec 12) after serving 12 years behind bars.

Police shoot dead inmate in Sri Lanka virus prison riot

November 29, 2020 11:50 PM

Sunday's clashes were the culmination of weeks of unrest in several prisons across the country.

Escaped Chinese death row inmate found dead in possible suicide

October 19, 2020 10:25 AM

Cai Changpan, a Chinese death row inmate who had been at large for a month following his escape from the Tangerang penitentiary in Banten, was found dead in a factory in Bogor, West Java.

Thai protesters tie white ribbons at prison for activists

September 04, 2020 9:32 PM

BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thai protesters tied white ribbons to the gate of a prison in Bangkok on Friday (Sept 4) to call for the release of two activists whose bail was revoked as they face charges over anti-government demonstrations.

Australia prisoners set fire in cells as virus lockdown sparks unrest

September 01, 2020 6:17 PM

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - Inmates at a high-security Australian prison lit fires, smashed windows and flooded their cells with water, authorities said on Tuesday (Aug 1), after a lockdown sparked by a coronavirus outbreak resulted in a shortage of staff and services.

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