Have you ever wondered what life would be behind bars? While most prisoners, especially those in Latin American jails, recall the hardships and challenges of prison life, jail culture in Venezuela reveals otherwise.

It is already a common belief that life in prison is incredibly hard. However, the so-called "party prisons" in Venezuela offers a major culture shock to the imprisonment norm. As a matter of fact, some prisons offer VIP privileges, protection and luxurious amenities including nightclubs and even a cocaine "factory."

Centro Penitenciario de Aragua a.k.a. Tocorón (Caracas, Venezuela)

This Venezuelan prison is notorious for providing protection to those who can afford to pay between 50 and 100 bolivares ($8 to $16) weekly. The prison is also controlled by a self-appointed leader called a "pran." The prison leader is also known as "El Niño Guerrero" ("The Warrior Child").

Unfortunately, a September 2010 riot exposed the bizarre intricacies of prison culture in Tocorón when the Venezuelan authorities raided the prison. The military also discovered a throng of facilities that were not normally found in a prison. These include three cock-fighting rings, an illegal horse-race betting operation, a motocross course, a children's playground and a yard with 50 pigs.

In addition, the prison also had several small restaurants, three bars and the infamous Tokio Nightclub, which was popular to the inmates and visitors because of its parties.

El Rodeo I Prison (Guatitre, Venezuela)

Aside from Tocorón, El Rodeo I prison was also named as one of the nation's "party prisons." Like Tocorón, El Rodeo I also opened their own nightclub. The club was filled with giant screens, speakers and a smoke machine, not to mention the strippers. The bar also had VIP balconies.

San Antonio Penitentiary Facility (Margarita Island, Venezuela)

The San Antonio Penitentiary Facility is not your typical penal institution. It's actually a "paradise for incarcerated criminals." In fact, male and female prisoners are free to mingle with each other. The prison also has its own food stall called McLandro's and four swimming pools while reggaetón music booms around the prison 24/7.

"This is the strangest place I've ever been," said Nadezhda Klinaeva, a Russian inmate serving a drug trafficking sentence in San Antonio.

Venezuelan Prisons are Not Safe

While these aforementioned "party prisons" depict the comfortable and extravagant conveniences of life behind bars, don't get fooled. Venezuelan prisons are not safe places to live. Actually, the nation's prison system is dreadfully overpopulated with a current capacity of more than 40,000 prisoners, exceeding its actual capacity of 15,000.

Venezuelan jail life also mirrors the nation's unregulated autonomy and failing prison system with an increasing crime rate amid political and social crises.