San Pedro prison, Prison complex in La Paz, Bolivia.
San Pedro is a prison complex in La Paz, Bolivia, where inmates buy and sell cells and perform daily tasks such as maintenance, sales, and craft work. The facility consists of several levels and sections where prisoners live according to income tiers.
Construction followed an architectural competition in 1850 and was completed in 1895 after securing necessary funds. Over decades the facility evolved into a self-governed system with elected representatives from among the inmates.
The name honors Saint Peter, known in Catholic tradition as keeper of the keys. Today inmates run small workshops and shops where they sell crafts and goods to visitors from other prisoner neighborhoods.
Visits are heavily restricted and controlled by Bolivian authorities, with only authorized individuals granted access. New arrivals negotiate cell prices that can vary widely depending on size, location, and condition.
Eight separate sections are each managed by elected inmate committees that set budgets and enforce discipline. Families may live together with incarcerated relatives, which includes children who grow up inside the walls.
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