Inside one of the world’s most feared prisons, the lights are never switched off. Now the prison director reveals why.
El Salvador was once known as the “murder capital of the world,” but the country has undergone a dramatic crackdown on gang violence under president Nayib Bukele.
At the center of that effort is CECOT, a massive high-security prison reportedly spanning the size of 32 soccer fields.
The prison, officially known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, holds up to 40,000 inmates, including alleged gang members and some of the country’s most violent criminals.
Now, the prison’s director has revealed why the facility remains brightly lit around the clock.
Prison described as ‘hell’
The facility is protected by an electronic security dome designed to block contraband and outside communication. According to reports, cell phone signals are completely cut off inside.
A new Channel 5 documentary offers a rare look inside the prison and the harsh conditions inmates face.
Prisoners sleep on metal bunks without mattresses, pillows or blankets. Beyond a Bible, they are not allowed books, newspapers or screens, and talking is heavily restricted.
The prison also includes a punishment cell described as a concrete hole, where inmates can reportedly be held for up to 30 days for breaking rules.
Why the lights stay on
During the documentary, prison director Belarmino García explained that the lights have never been switched off, and never will be.
“We have a 24/7 lighting system,” García said and added: “It’s simply part of the protocol. I need to be able to see what they are doing.”
Despite the prison’s intense security, inmates are counted daily and spend roughly 23 and a half hours each day inside their cells.
During the brief period they are allowed out, they perform calisthenics and listen to Bible readings. Meals are equally strict. Prisoners are reportedly served the same food every day: rice and beans.
CECOT primarily houses suspected members of gangs and some inmates are serving consecutive sentences adding to over 700 years.
One prisoner interviewed in the documentary reportedly admitted to killing 30 people and claimed he had no regrets.
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