Life during and after San Roque Prison in Sucre, Bolivia

When thinking of a Bolivian prison your mind might go to San Pedro prison in La Paz, known for having a functioning society within its walls completely run by the inmates. However, outside this bizarre prison city, the incarcerating system in Bolivia is not often talked about in the United States. The county is ranked the fourth highest for prison overpopulation in Latin America, 264% over-population, and has a well-documented history of inhuman treatment of the people there. With prisons more than doubling overcapacity, many people are left neglected while their human rights are overlooked. Juan Ramos was one of those people.

Ramos, a 30-year-old Bolivian man, was sentenced to three months in prison at San Roque in Sucre, Bolivia for the possession of 22 grams of marijuana. In Bolivia that is a crime by 5 to 12 years in prison. During his time he saw firsthand, the harsh living conditions the convicted are forced to endure.