Carandiru Prison in Sao Paolo is amongst the world's largest prisons - it occupies a whole neighbourhood of the city. Approximately 7000 inmates held here, yet there are only 100 prison warders to control them. As such, the prisoners tend to run things for themselves, and a status quo exists between them and their guards. The prison walls are, however, patrolled by military police who are known for their ruthlessness when escape attempts are made or rioting breaks out. In one such riot in 1992 122 prisoners died within half an hour in the ensuing battle to regain control.

Reductions in sentence can be earned through work, although these days are forfeited if a prisoner causes trouble. Drug dealing is a rife throughout, indeed some of the bigger dealers continue to carry on their dealings via mobile phone to outside associates. The prison has religious facilities for the different faiths: Muslim, Christian, Hindu etc. and when prisoners are at prayer, this is the only time that they are completely safe from each other. The prison has a basic health clininc, although conditions are generally unsanitary and whilst a high number of prisoners are believed to be HIV positive or have AIDS, there is no testing as such. Whilst the situation is bad enough for the prison's Brazilian inmates, it is considerably worse for foreigners: language barriers and unscrupulous lawyers leave the prisoners open to abuse - it is not uncommon for a lwayer to disappear with the client's money without making any attempt to secure their release.