The Worst Prison Riots of All Time

Prison riots don't just happen out of no where, there's almost always a reason for them. It could be that the inmates weren't being treated right, unfair regulations, lack of food, or anything else that would tick off the inmates. Since they're human, they want to be viewed as one. Sure, they're in prison for a crime they've committed, but while staying under the roof, they shouldn't be living in inhuman conditions. Just being locked up away from freedom, eating innutritious food, and sleeping on a stiff mattress is enough to have them ponder over what they've committed.

And many of these riots are no fun in the playground—they mainly end up in bloody aftermaths. Both officers and inmates are involved, leaving casualties and injured individuals. In fact, riots aren't rare, and many them occurred over the years. But there are a few that are labeled as the worst prison riots ever in history. Let's take a look at which prisons were covered in damage and blood.

The Attica Prison Riot

Located in Attica, New York, the Attica Correctional Facility riot is known to be one of the worst prison riots ever taken place. It’s also marked as a significant uprising of the Prisoners’ Rights Movement. During the summer of 1971, the state prison in Attica fumed with inmates who couldn’t stand the living conditions. They were allowed to shower once a week and only have one roll of toilet paper each month. Many of the prisoners began to even view themselves as political prisoners than criminals.

However, on the morning of September 9, 1971, a massive eruption occurred while going to breakfast when inmates overpowered their guards and ran down a prison gallery in one giant riot. From the 2,200 inmates, about 1,000 inmates all joined in and began rampaging through the facility. They began brutally beating the guards, taking their weapons, and burning the prison chapel down. They even took 42 officers and staff hostage.

Throughout the following four days, authorities agreed to 28 of the inmates' demands. Yet, they didn’t agree to the demands that involved complete amnesty from criminal prosecution for the prison takeover or the removal of Attica’s superintendent. Afterwards, by the order of Governor Nelson Rockefeller, the state police gained their control over the prison again.

Once everything was cleared up, at least 43 people died, and that included ten correctional officers and civilian employees, as well as 33 inmates. This event became an amazing prison movie.

The Qasr Rescue Mission

On February 12, 1979, a huge, angry mob stormed Qasr Prison in Tehran, Iran. A riot that freed all 11,000 prisoners inside is known to be one of the most massive and worst prison riots ever. However, the mob didn’t have the slightest clue that their entire riot could have been orchestrated as part of a covert American rescue operation. Instead, this came from the Iranian Revolution, where the Shah of Iran had been overthrown and replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini.

Just two months before the riot, American information technology company Electronic Data Systems (EDS) was operating in Iran, who were installing computer systems for the government. And when the revolution started, EDS executives Bill Gaylord and Paul Chiapparone were arrested on corruption charges. The founder of EDS was the future US presidential candidate Ross Perot. And since Perot had no luck in negotiating the release of his two executives, he ended up turning to retired military operatives to launch a rescue mission called “Operation Hotfoot.”

In the midst of preparing the mission, Gaylord and Chiapparone were transferred to Qasr Prison, because no regular military operation could spring them from such a facility. Perot thought of another idea and searched for the assistance of an Iranian EDS employee named Rashid. On February 12, Rashid told a huge mob of pro-Khomeini revolutionaries that Qasr Prison was holding Shah as a prisoner. Then at that point, the revolutionaries burst through the facility, directly responding to Rashid. From the chaos, Rashid was able to bring Gaylord and Chiapparone out of the prison.

Montana State Prison

One of the worst prison riots in history started on April 16, 1959, where prisoner Jerry Myles and his accomplices, Lee Smart and George Alton, gained control of the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. It began when the inmates took rifles from the guards in both cell houses and started taking hostages. This was actually done fairly quickly and quietly while guards were being taken one by one. And within that half hour, everyone who knew a riot was taking place either died or was captured. The first casualty was Deputy Warden Ted Roth, who was murderd by Myles and Smart.

Warden Floyd Powell was across the street from the prison. Myles went to tell him that there was a “disturbance” at the prison. And once he got inside the prison, Powell was captured by Myles and Smart and held hostage. He was forced to call Governor Aronson in Helena, but the governor wasn’t in and Powell left a coded message that warned the governor of his situation without the captors knowing. Then, Powell was put under watch by inmate Walter Trotchie who was actually ordered to kill him with a kitchen knife if the governor didn’t call by 8 PM. And amazingly, Powell managed to make Trotchie give up his weapon in exchange for amnesty—he then escaped.

Myles had an idea and it was to tunnel out of the prison with no tools. However, Powell and Myles made a deal that involved a team of reporters entering the prison, taking pictures, and interviewing inmates, but nothing would be printed until the hostages were set free. At that point, Powell allowed three members of the media to enter and interview the inmates. But Myles then refused to release the hostages and threatened to kill them if more reports don’t show up to cover everything. Powell refused and a standoff ensued.

During the third day of the riot, the Montana National Guard barged into the prison. All hostages were let out unharmed, but the riot ended with a murder-suicide of both Myles and Smart.

Strangeways Prison Riot

The Strangeways Prison riot in 1990 is seen as one of the worst prison riots, and it lasted for 25 days. Located in Manchester, England, the riot began on April 1, 1990, when prisoners took control over the prison chapel and at that point the riot quickly built up and spread throughout the majority of the prison. It was not only a riot, but a rooftop protest as well.

The reasons for the riot had to do with overcrowding, inhuman conditions, and mistreating the inmates. The two key players that created the riot were inmates Paul Taylor and Alan Lord. Once getting control of the guards, the inmates headed for the roof and started mocking and taunting the officers on the ground. At this moment, inmates began destroying the prison, setting fires in certain areas, removing parts of the roof, etc. Even after firefighters tried to get rid of the fire and officers attempted to barge in, there were just too many rioters to control. So, the officers waited.

They waited for 25 days and the rioters were still on the roof, ignoring their hunger and fatigue. When officers broke into the prisons, they discovered that the place was a total disaster that would cost millions to repair. Only one prisoner was killed while 147 officers and 47 prisoners were injured. This event was also made into a true crime documentary.

The Carandiru Massacre

The Carandiru Massacre is known as one of the worst prison riots ever, occurring in one of the most violent prisons in the world. It took place on October 2, 1992, in Carandiru Penitentiary in São Paulo, Brazil. The massacre was triggered by a prisoner revolt. The prison guards made little effort to negotiate with the prisoners before the Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo barged into the facility, as it became difficult for the guards to control the riot.

For casualties, 111 prisoners were killed and 102 of them were from gunshots that were fired by the police. Nine were stabbed apparently from other prisoners before the police arrived. However, none of the 68 officers were killed. In fact, survivors of the riot mentioned that the police fired at inmates who were already surrounded or were even trying to hide in their cells.

The New Mexico State Penitentiary

Terrible prison conditions such as overcrowding, inferior services, and other reasons caused the massive New Mexico State Penitentiary riot on February 2 and 3, 1980, making it one of the worst prison riots ever in history. From unsanitary cells to poor-quality food, and even the cancellation of education, it was no shocker that a riot occurred in the prison.

On February 2, 1980, two prisoners overpowered an officer. Then in minutes, four more of the 15 officers were taken hostage. At this point, a fleeing officer couldn’t lock the grill between the south and north wings of the prison. The path to the control center was left wide open for inmates to enter. Inmates even got ahold of keys from an officer’s belt and started releasing other inmates from their cells. They started bashing windows and doors to get into control rooms and unlock doors, grab weapons, and get more keys.

At this point, murder and violence began to occur. Gangs were fighting other gangs, and inmates were beating each other up as well as beating up officers. Then inmates wanted to negotiate with the officers, making demands for better prison conditions that included overcrowding, regaining the education system, better food, and more. They even demanded to speak with independent federal officials and members of the media. Once the inmates met with reporters, the officers who were held hostage were released.

A total of 33 inmates died and more than 200 inmates were treated for injuries. While none of the 12 officers that were taken hostage were killed, seven of them were seriously injured from beatings and rape.

Willacy County Correctional Center Riot

On Friday, February 20, 2015, a major riot occurred in Willacy County Correctional Center in Texas that’s marked as one of the worst prison riots. About 2,000 inmates rioted for protection of medical services. It all started when several inmates refused to leave their housing units for breakfast. And around noon, the facility was under lockdown when officers met with offenders to try to resolve the conflict. 45 minutes in, many offenders broke out of their units and went to the recreation yard.

Inmates started setting prisons tents on fire and causing other damages. Of the 2,000 were involved, 1,000 inmates that were housed differently weren’t involved. At this point, tear gas had to be brought into the situation. This also involved lockdowns of three schools and canceling sport practices and after-school activities. However, no inmate tried escaping and only two officers and three to five inmates were injured during the riot.

Uribana Prison Riot

On January 25, 2013, one of the worst prison riots happened at Uribana Prison in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. The riot was triggered when an announcement was made about Venezuelan National Guard troops searching for weapons as part of an anti-gang measure. This resulted in inmates rioting and murdering officers, fellow inmates, and the National Guard troops.

Bodies have been described as totally mutilated to the point where they were identifiable. Due to mutilation, officials were charged for the violation of human rights. There was a report stating that 61 people were killed and over 120 people were injured during the riot. Human rights groups blamed overcrowding and inhuman conditions for the riot.

Lucasville Prison

Among the biggest and worst prison riots ever was at Lucasville Prison in Lucasville, Ohio. On April 11, 1993, about 450 prisoners in Cellblock L started to riot, for several reasons. One of the reasons involved a fear that Muslim inmates had that correction officials would force the prisoners to have tuberculosis vaccinations. The vaccinations would have violated the prisoners’ faiths.

On the first day of the riot, some rioters beat five other inmates to death and even placed their bodies in the exercise yard. Throughout the next several days, four other inmates died from other rioters. They also took eight prison guards hostage. And on April 15, the inmates got their hands on guard Robert Vallandingham and strangled him to death, in hopes that the state officials would take their demands seriously. In addition to that, the inmates caused more than $40 million just in damages to the prison.

At this point, officials agreed to look over the 21 demands and the rioters surrendered on April 21, 1993.

Ciudad Juarez

The Ciudad Juárez riot is last on the list of the worst prison riots ever. Located in Chihuahua, Mexico, the riot began around 7 AM on March 4, 2009, and it lasted for about two hours. Fourteen members of the Aztecas controlled a prison guard with knives and stole the guard’s keys. When the gang started opening several cells, they released about 170 prisoners.

During this moment, the prisoners forced their way into an area where meetings with family and friends occurred for conjugal visits and started attacking them. In the midst of the riot, prisoners began setting their cells on fire, stabbing each other with knives, or beating each other to death. Other prisoners managed to get their hands on rifles and iron pins to use as weapons. Plus, there were some prisoners who were thrown from the second story of the prison.

About 50 members of the Mexican Army, 200 police officers, an airplane, and two helicopters were used to put the riot to an end. It was reported that about 20 people were killed and 15 were injured. The riot ended up being a fight among several rival gangs involving the Barrio Azteca, Los Mexicles, and Artistas Asesinos.