Children during visiting hours at Batang City Jail, one of...

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - 2003/04/01: Children during visiting hours at Batang City Jail, one of four gangs at the Manila City Jail. Some of the children even live with their fathers in a cell. Family members of the inmates are allowed to visit daily and bring food for their relatives. Manila City Jail was built for 800 prisoners by the Spanish in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, however, it holds over 4,500 inmates, making it extremely over-crowded. The last big riot was in 1999 when 7 people including a child died. Fights are still rampant. The biggest killer is tuberculosis, followed by asthma. In 2002 alone, over 50 inmates succumbed to these types of respiratory tract diseases. This harsh environment is made all the worse by the fact that all the inmates are yet to be convicted. They are awaiting trial; that wait can last anything from four to nine years due to a very slow judiciary court system. The jail is divided in two different dorms; the biggest part is taken by Metro Manila's four gangs, Bahalagang (fearless), Sputnik, Commando and Batang City Jail gang. Each gang has 400 to 800 members. (Photo by Gerhard Joren/LightRocket via Getty Images)