Museu Penitenciário Paulista, Prison system museum in São Paulo, Brazil.
This museum displays objects from the São Paulo prison system since 1920, including weapons, tools, paintings, and photographic records of inmate tattoos. The collection holds around 1,800 documented tattoo photographs that preserve evidence of this distinct social system within prisons.
The museum opened in 2014 at the former Carandiru complex, which operated as the largest prison in Latin America until its closure in 2002. The location thus preserves the history of an institution that shaped São Paulo's criminal justice system for decades.
The collection documents prison tattoos with symbols and codes that reflected hierarchies and belonging within the inmate community. These visual records show how prisoners carried their identity and history on their skin.
The museum is accessible Monday through Friday and requires advance booking for group visits. Plan to spend sufficient time exploring the collections and understanding the stories behind the objects on display.
The museum preserves handmade items created by inmates, such as improvised cooking devices and skillful crafts, that demonstrate how prisoners adapted to life behind bars. These everyday objects tell stories of resourcefulness and survival in extreme conditions.
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