La Joya

La Joya from Compromiso Centroamérica on Vimeo.

Uno de los eventos de la Feria "Compromiso Centroamérica" - Presentación del corta "El Otro Lado" y una conversación con Guido Bilbao. No perca! compromisocentroamerica.org/​

La Joya

Directed by award winning documentary filmmaker: Abner Benaim
Documentary, Panama 2005

This video is a 6 min. compilation of the award winning documentary La Joya (The Jewel). La Joya is the first documentary in the award winning series of El Otro Lado (The Other Side).

A former US military base now coverted to a prison, La Joy was intented to be an open style prison for condemned criminals. However, in reality, it is massively overcrowed, currently housing 2600 inmates instead of the stated maximum capacity of 1500. 60% of the inmates are currently awaiting trail and most wait an average of two years before their cases are processed. Pavillions in La Joya are divided by gangs rather than by the crime committed. Homosexuals are immediately housed in a pavillion with HIV positve inmates, where no clinical treatment is available and condoms are prohibited. The health risk increases with each new inmate.

Living conditions are unsanitary. Some cells have no running water, and those that do, were recently found to have contaminated water. Furthermore, few jail cells have actual toilets for the inmates to use and they are forced to defecate in plastic bags. Inmates are only allowed outside these diseased cells once every two weeks, not surprising, this usually takes a huge toll on their mental health. Families are allowed three half-hour visits a year and rehabilitation program are practically non-existant. La Joya is hell on earth, where disease is common and knife fights are an everyday occurrance.

Apetura Films had the rare opportunity to receive permits to enter La Joya and bring back images and testimonials never before seen.