Cárcel de San Miguel, Correctional facility in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile
Cárcel de San Miguel is a correctional facility in Santiago with multiple tower buildings arranged around a central courtyard. The structure includes collective cell blocks organized in separate sections to house both remand and sentenced prisoners.
The facility opened in September 1982 with capacity for 1100 inmates, but severe overcrowding developed rapidly. A fire in December 2010 killed 81 people and became one of Chile's most devastating prison disasters, prompting changes to security measures.
The prison system in Chile includes specialized sections for different inmate categories, reflecting the country's approach to criminal rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The facility operates as a women's penitentiary with dedicated sections for mothers and their young children. Access is restricted as it remains an active correctional institution, so visitor entry may require prior authorization.
The prison became an international focus for debates on detention conditions and security standards across Latin America following the tragedy. Prison reform advocates have since used it as a case study when discussing overcrowding and safety improvements in regional facilities.
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