Jim Boy, a six year old child, walks around the courtyard...
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - 2003/04/01: Jim Boy, a six year old child, walks around the courtyard while the inmates are being counted, which happens three times a day. Jim Boy lives with his father in a cell. They are part of Batang City Jail Gang, which has some 600 members. There are four other main gangs at the jail.
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)
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Credit:
Editorial #:
452969146
Collection:
LightRocket
Date created:
01 April, 2003
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Source:
LightRocket
Object name:
gjo02258