La Modelo, Prison facility in Puente Aranda, Bogotá, Colombia
La Modelo is a correctional facility in Bogotá featuring four watchtowers and six cell blocks, currently operating with a capacity designed for 2,907 inmates under INPEC administration.
The prison opened officially on January 1, 1960, originally named Cárcel de Distrito Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, built on the former grounds of Hacienda El Triunfo to replace inadequate detention centers.
The facility has housed notable figures including Alfonso Cano of FARC-EP, former president Gustavo Petro, and cartel member John Jairo Velásquez, reflecting Colombia's complex political and criminal history.
Located on Carrera 56 with postal code 111611, the prison operates continuously under INPEC management, though overcrowding consistently exceeds its official capacity by significant margins.
In March 2020, a violent riot during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in 23 inmate deaths and 92 injuries, highlighting persistent security and health challenges within the institution.
Location: Bogotá
Official opening: January 1, 1960
Capacity: 2907
Website: https://www.inpec.gov.co/web/guest/establecimientos-penitenciarios/regional-central/cpms-bogota
Operator: INPEC
Address: 18A-47 18A-47 Carrera 56 111611 Localidad Puente Aranda 111611 Localidad Puente Aranda
Opening Hours: Monday 00:00-00:00
Website: https://inpec.gov.co/web/guest/establecimientos-penitenciarios/regional-central/cpms-bogota
GPS coordinates: 4.63596,-74.10773
Latest update: November 22, 2025 11:26
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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