Within one of the most notorious prisons globally, the lights are perpetually on. The prison director now shares the reasoning behind this.
El Salvador, once labeled the “murder capital of the world,” has seen a significant crackdown on gang-related violence under President Nayib Bukele.
At the heart of this initiative is CECOT, a vast high-security prison that reportedly covers an area equivalent to 32 soccer fields.
Officially named the Terrorism Confinement Center, this prison accommodates up to 40,000 inmates, including suspected gang members and some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals.
Recently, the prison’s director disclosed the reasons for the facility being illuminated 24/7.
Prison characterized as ‘hell’
The facility is safeguarded by an electronic security dome that prevents contraband and outside communication. Reports indicate that cell phone signals are entirely blocked within.
A new documentary from Channel 5 provides a rare glimpse into the prison and the severe conditions that inmates endure.
Inmates rest on metal bunks devoid of mattresses, pillows, or blankets. Aside from a Bible, they are prohibited from having books, newspapers, or screens, and communication is strictly limited.
The prison features a punishment cell, which is described as a concrete hole, where inmates can be confined for as long as 30 days for violating rules.
Regarding the lights remaining on
In the documentary, prison director Belarmino García mentioned that the lights have never been turned off and that they never will be.
“We maintain a 24/7 lighting system,” García stated, adding, “It’s simply part of the protocol. I need to be able to see what they are doing.”
Even with the prison’s high level of security, inmates are counted every day and spend approximately 23 and a half hours locked in their cells.
During the short time they are allowed outside, they engage in calisthenics and listen to Bible readings. Meal times are equally regimented, with prisoners reportedly receiving the same food daily: rice and beans.
CECOT mainly accommodates suspected gang members, and some inmates are serving consecutive sentences that total over 700 years.
One inmate featured in the documentary reportedly confessed to killing 30 individuals and stated that he feels no remorse.
