Maracaibo National Prison (Sabaneta Prison)
| Status | Closed |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 700 |
| Population | 3700 (as of 2013) |
| Opened | 1958 |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Managed by | Venezuelan Ministry of Prison Services |
| City | Maracaibo, Zulia |
| Country | Venezuela |
The Maracaibo National Prison (Sabaneta Prison) was a notoriously violent prison in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela in the state of Zulia. It was operated by the Ministry of Prison Systems, most recently under minister Iris Varela, from 1958-2013. Typical of a Venezuelan prison, it was severely overcrowded, with inadequate access to medical care, food, and clean water, and violence among prisoners was common. Gangs of inmates had control over the prison, and were led by a "pran" (inmate leader). The prison was closed after 55 years of operation due to government intervention and is now being converted into a museum.