The following photographs were taken at the Vista Hermosa prison in Ciudad
Bolivar, Venezuela in March and April 2013.
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| Drug users and those who violate the unwritten rules imposed by the inmates who
control Vista Hermosa are confined to one area known as La
Guerrilla. |
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| A general view of the Vista Hermosa prison. On the left is a mural with the
chief of the prison, inmate Wilmer Brizuela |
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Prisoners preparing pipes used to smoke crack
cocaine.
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Homemade crack pipes made from objects including soda
cans, bones and wood.
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A member of the carro, the group of inmates who
control the prison, during a routine patrol.
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Wilmer "Wilmito" Brizuela teaches another inmate how to
box in the prison's gym.
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| Family visitors during a celebration in the prison. In September 2008, family
overnights were instituted as part of the Prison Humanization Plan, which sought
to reduce conflict in the prisons and restore inmates' rights |
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| Brizuela's daughter celebrates her 15th birthday in the prison |
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| All inmates and their families were invited to the party, which had over 2,000
guests |
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Inmates gather on the sports fields to sing and
rap.
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A child flies a kite in front of a security post of the
Bolivarian National Guard, the official agency responsible for ensuring the
security of the Venezuelan prisons.
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The wife of a prisoner in his room during a weekend
visit.
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Inmates sleeping on the rooftop of the prison. The Vista
Hermosa prison was built for 650 inmates, but currently holds more than
1400.
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Inmates are free to practice their religion in prison.
Most prisons have a chapel, and evangelical Christianity has an important role
in the criminal population.
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A small cell houses two brothers, with beds, a roof, air
conditioning and a television. Such amenities are made available because they
have made payments to the leaders of the prison, about $10
each.
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A 9mm pistol and an iPhone 5 that belong to one of the
inmates on a couch in the living room of one of the leaders of the
prison.
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Music can be heard on evenings and weekends in any corner
of the prison. Hip-hop and reggae are the most popular genres.
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Portrait of an inmate with scars and tattoos from years
in confinement.
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| Prisoners smoke crack cocaine |
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| Inmates dance with girls during a weekend visit. In the background, an armed
member of the carro keeps watch |
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With his two sons, a prisoner grills meat to sell to
other inmates and their visitors. Since the inmates have taken control of the
prison, they have the freedom to run their our businesses.
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Members of the carro run a routine check in the
prison.
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| Inmates in La Guerrilla |
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Prisoners make a blood strike on the roof to demand their
transport to the capital city, Caracas.
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Gay inmates run the prison laundry and are otherwise
confined to their quarters, but don’t fear harassment. Ezekiel, alias Maritza,
hopes to be a model one day.
more Sebastiàn Liste HERE
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