Dilapidated prisons in the USA: A scandal of hygiene and human dignity

In the USA, conditions in many prisons are catastrophic. Overcrowding, dilapidated buildings and poor hygiene are a daily reality for many prisoners. Reports of mold, vermin, defective sanitary facilities and a lack of medical care paint a frightening picture.

The situation is particularly aggravated in older prisons. Leaky roofs, broken heating systems and outdated ventilation systems mean that extreme temperatures in both summer and winter become an additional burden. In some institutions there is not even enough clean drinking water.

Human rights organizations have been criticizing these intolerable conditions for years, but many states delay necessary renovations or privatize prisons, which often leads to even worse conditions.

Every person – regardless of their past – has a right to humane prison conditions. The conditions in the USA are a reminder of what happens when profit is placed above basic rights.