Cost of jail cell at 'world's toughest prison' as British backpacker has to pay for his own
There aren't exactly a lot of perks when it comes to being in prison, but probably the only added benefit of being behind bars is that you know you're going to be fed, watered and have a roof over your head.
However, this is not the case in every country - and it is certainly not a guarantee in some of the world's toughest slammers which are run by inmates, rather than authorities.
Correctional facilities such as Bolivia's fearsome San Pedro prison, situated in the capital city of La Paz, operate in stark contrast to the majority of its international counterparts, as the jail is considered a society within itself.
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As a result, the people locked up there are a law unto themselves and although crime and violence are commonplace, San Pedro also boasts quite the sophisticated business model.
But just like in the outside world, money talks - and if you haven't got any, you're going to be in for a bumpy ride.
Which is why the family of Brit backpacker John Henshaw launched a GoFundMe to pay for his essentials, food, a cell and legal fees - as without any cash flow, he'd be 'sleeping in the corridors' of a seriously dangerous place.
John, 39, has been locked up in San Pedro since he was allegedly caught with a small amount of cannabis at the La Paz International Airport in February, and will be waiting at least another 90 days before his case gets looked at.
For now, it's all about getting the father-of-one through each day - although his relatives say it's proving difficult to get him the supplies he needs, as he is only being 'drip fed' money from the British Embassy in Bolivia so that he doesn’t acquire enough wealth to be robbed inside.
Henshaw's pal Lewis Powell dubbed San Pedro a 'hellhole' and was left stunned by the idea that inmates have to pay for 'the privilege of getting a cell in this horrible prison'.
So, what exactly is this bizarre accommodation situation all about?
San Pedro's own society
If you have seen Prison Break and remember what Michael Schofield experienced in Sona, the fictional Panama prison where drug kingpin Lechero calls the shots, you'll already have an idea of what San Pedro is like.
Or if you tuned into the episode of The World's Toughest Prisons which the Bolivian jail featured in, I'm sure you are already well versed in how things go down behind these prison walls.
For starters, those inside each live in several different housing sections which each operate like a small village - boasting their own courtyards, restaurants, markets and shops.
Inmates at this lock-up function independently without the help of guards and have instead developed their own set of rules, punishments, a political system and an economy.
They each have jobs inside the community which help them earn cash - so criminals are working as hairdressers, shopkeepers, messengers, cleaners and everything in between to make a few quid.
At one point, savvy jailbirds even turned San Pedro into a tourist attraction after realising they could cash in on the curiosity of holidaymakers by showing them around the place - and at its height, 50 tours a day were taking place.
Bidding for a bed
These sources of income are obviously very important to the people who call this place home - as often, the survival of their families who have moved inside the prison with them depends on it.
Or, they may need some money to put down a deposit on a new pad.
That's because inmates aren't allocated cells upon their arrival due to the lack of authority in San Pedro, meaning that newbies need to immediately start scouring for available real estate for them to take over when they arrive.
To make it easier for convicts, there's a Trip Advisor-style rating system to inform them about the quality of prospective cells in the various housing sections including Posta, Pinos, Alamos, San Martin, Prefectura and Palmar.
Even in San Pedro, you get what you pay for - so if you have the cash flow, you can buy your way to a more comfortable sentence by getting in the nicer areas, where residents act similarly to those in gated communities.
They lock out all the riffraff at around 9pm on a nightly basis, which is often when violence and stabbings occur in the less desirable parts of the correctional facility.
So if you value your safety and have the revenue stream for it, spend that bit extra - as can you really put a price on a good night's sleep?
Cost of cells
That's not to say that these cushty cells - which can feature jacuzzis, cable TV, private kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, carpet, and stunning views - come cheap, though.
Inmates have to negotiate a price for their desired cell with the outgoing prisoner who previously resided in it, before signing a sale-purchase agreement and later drawing up an official property title deed.
I told you it was sophisticated!
Some cells are more than one floor, as wealthy inmates can fork out for an extension on them if they have the money and kit them out with all the home comforts they can dream of.
These apartment-style cells can go for as much as £23,625 ($30,000), according to The Architectural Review.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are cells dubbed as 'coffins' - which up to five criminals can be crammed into at one time - that usually cost a few hundred pounds.
Which is still quite pricey considering it's compared to a wooden casket.
La Razon reports that cell prices typically range from £236 ($300) to £7,872 ($10,000) in San Pedro, with the more comfortable and secure cells costing significantly more.
The president of the 'inmates council of representatives' inside the Bolivia jail, Limber Porcel, previously revealed that accommodation is usually assigned by seniority.
Porcel explained that the 'council' collect monthly payments from inmates, but claimed this cash goes to a 'communal fund' used to pay for maintenance, repairs, and improvements.
According to the publication, some criminals have even taken it upon themselves to construct their own cells, despite bills running into the thousands.
Rent a room
If you simply can't afford to purchase a cell in San Pedro, you can rent.
Affluent inmates with plenty of money often snap up cells as investments, before hiring them out to struggling prisoners who can't afford hefty down payments.
At the end of their stay inside a rented cell, the occupant will be slapped with a bill for the water and electricity they have used during their time there, The Architectural Review reports.
Amenities are another expense inmates have to somehow stump up for - as due to San Pedro's location in the world's highest capital city, which sits 3,650m above sea level - staying warm is key to survival.
On top of rent fees, people in this facility have to pay for food, clothing and medicine.
So I'm sure you can understand why the family of John Henshaw are pretty concerned about how he is faring inside San Pedro.
The latest update shared to GoFundMe explained that the Brit, from Greater Manchester, was in an 'induction type holding cell, crammed in with a lot of other prisoners'.
The post explained that he would remain in this cell for a period of five days, before he would get his own space.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson told LADbible: “We are providing consular support to a British man detained in Bolivia and are in contact with the local authorities.”
LADbible has reached out to the Ministry of Justice in Bolivia for comment.
Topics: World News, Prison, Crime, Money, Home, UK News, Weird
Olivia Burke