Pelican Bay State Prison in the United States

The Pelican Bay State Prison is the infamous California supermax prison for the worst of the worst. It consists of grim concrete structures surrounded by a high-voltage fence between two chain-link fences topped with razor wire. The general population of inmates is housed on two maximum-security yards, but the most dangerous inmates —who have committed serious infractions in prison or are known gang members— go to a more confined area, the Security Housing Unit, or SHU.

Prisoners diagnosed with severe mental disorders—those who are bad and mad—don’t fare well in the general population. But in 1995, a federal court forbade the California Department of Corrections from sending mentally ill prisoners to SHU because of its harsh conditions. Now a mentally ill prisoner who commits a serious violation is sent to the Psychiatric Services Unit. Prisoners there undergo treatment and may leave their cells for at least 20 hours every week.