Worst Prison Riots in History

Prison riots represent the most extreme expression of discontent within correctional facilities. These violent upheavals, often born from grievances about conditions, overcrowding, or perceived injustice, have sometimes resulted in significant loss of life and, in their aftermath, catalysed meaningful reform.

The Attica Prison Uprising (1971)

The Attica Correctional Facility uprising in New York State remains one of the most significant events in American penal history. On 9 September 1971, approximately 1,200 inmates seized control of the prison, taking 42 staff members hostage.

The uprising was driven by long-standing grievances about living conditions, racial discrimination, and lack of adequate medical care. The prison, designed for 1,200 inmates, held approximately 2,200 at the time. Inmates received one shower per week and one roll of toilet paper per month.

After four days of negotiations, Governor Nelson Rockefeller ordered state police to retake the prison by force. The assault resulted in the deaths of 43 people, including 33 inmates and 10 hostages. Nearly all deaths were caused by gunfire from state forces rather than by inmate violence.

The Attica uprising led to significant reforms in the New York prison system and influenced correctional policy nationwide. It also sparked broader conversations about prisoners' rights, the use of force in correctional settings, and the conditions that drive prison violence.

The Strangeways Prison Riot (1990)

The riot at HMP Manchester (Strangeways) began on 1 April 1990 and lasted 25 days, making it the longest prison disturbance in British history. The riot began during a chapel service when an inmate seized the microphone and called on fellow prisoners to fight for their rights.

Inmates quickly took control of most of the prison. One prisoner died during the riot, and 147 prison officers and 47 inmates were injured. The rioters caused extensive damage to the Victorian-era building, with images of inmates on the prison roof becoming iconic symbols of the event.

The Strangeways riot was primarily motivated by appalling conditions, including chronic overcrowding, a policy of "slopping out" (using chamber pots rather than toilets), poor food, and limited time out of cells. Lord Justice Woolf conducted a comprehensive inquiry that produced 12 main recommendations and 204 supporting proposals for prison reform.

The Woolf Report led to significant improvements in the English prison system, including the end of slopping out, better complaints procedures, the introduction of prison contracts (now called compacts), and improved conditions for remand prisoners. Many consider it the most important document in modern British prison history.

The New Mexico State Penitentiary Riot (1980)

The 1980 riot at the New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santa Fe was perhaps the most violent prison uprising in American history. Over a 36-hour period, inmates killed 33 fellow prisoners, many through extreme brutality.

The riot began in the early hours of 2 February when inmates overcame guards and took control of the facility. The violence that followed was directed primarily at inmates perceived as informants, who were tortured and killed. Guards were beaten but none were killed.

Conditions at the facility had been deteriorating for years prior to the riot. Overcrowding, reduced programming, and the use of an informant system that bred distrust among inmates all contributed to the explosive atmosphere. The state had been warned about conditions by multiple oversight agencies before the riot occurred.

The Carandiru Massacre (1992)

The events at Carandiru Penitentiary in São Paulo, Brazil represent one of the most controversial prison incidents in history. On 2 October 1992, military police entered the facility to quell a riot and killed 111 prisoners. Many were shot in their locked cells.

The massacre drew international condemnation and raised profound questions about the use of military force in civilian correctional settings. Colonel Ubiratan Guimarães, who led the police operation, was initially convicted of the killings but the conviction was later overturned on appeal.

Carandiru was finally closed in 2002, but Brazil's prison system continues to face severe challenges including overcrowding, gang violence, and deadly riots. Multiple mass casualties have occurred in Brazilian prisons in subsequent decades.

Lessons and Reforms

Each major prison riot has, to varying degrees, prompted examination of the conditions that caused it. Common themes emerge across incidents: overcrowding, inadequate staffing, poor conditions, lack of grievance mechanisms, and the failure of authorities to address known problems before they escalated.

The most constructive responses have involved comprehensive inquiries that examine systemic issues rather than simply assigning individual blame. The Woolf Report following Strangeways and the McKay Commission after Attica both produced recommendations that, when implemented, led to genuine improvements.

Modern prison management has developed sophisticated tools for monitoring tensions within facilities and intervening before situations escalate. Decency agendas, regular inspections, independent monitoring boards, and complaints systems all serve as pressure valves that can reduce the likelihood of violent disturbances.

However, the fundamental conditions that drive prison riots — overcrowding, inadequate resources, and the dehumanisation of inmates — persist in many systems worldwide. Until these root causes are addressed, the risk of further uprisings remains.