On a hot summer’s day at Turi Social Rehabilitation Centre, a maximum-security prison in Cuenca, Ecuador, prisoners hatched a pretty clever plan to cool off. With rainstorms and flash floods forecast, the forward-thinking inmates blocked off the drains in the large central courtyard used for recreational activities. The heavy rainfall arrived as predicted, and a makeshift swimming pool was formed.
Prisoners Vs. The Prison
By the time the rain had finished falling, the pool measured over three feet deep. The opportunity to refresh themselves with a dip in the water was a welcome surprise for all the prisoners. The prison authorities weren’t quite as pleased with the new development, however.
Hundreds of prisoners enjoyed the result of the prank. In video footage, they can be seen crowding around the pool, diving in, and climbing up on the basketball hoop’s pole to take a bigger jump in. Surprisingly, the guards on duty at the time didn’t take immediate action. Though they eventually ordered prisoners to unstop the drains and let the pool drain off, they didn’t inform prison authorities of the wrongdoing.
When asked about the incident, prison director, Ana Belen Cabrera, insisted that they won’t allow something similar to happen in the future. She even said it was possible that the inmates who did the blocking of the drains may face punishment.
Families And Friends Are In Support
Though the guards and prison authorities may not have been the biggest fans of the prank, the friends and families of the prisoners applauded the creativity. Since this prison is known for being overcrowded, with less-than-ideal living conditions, loved ones believed that the bit of fun was well deserved. And the discomfort a hot summer’s day can bring certainly made it seem justified as well.
Harmless Fun
Prisons are known for being pretty brutal places, especially maximum security ones, so it’s surprising to hear about harmless pranks and hijinx like this one. It just goes to show you that criminals like to have fun (and in a dip in the pool) like the rest of us once in a while.
After years under lockdown, can you imagine how amazing it would have felt to do a cannonball into the water, even if it was a bit shallower than your average swimming pool? A prison is a world unto itself, and you get used to living without modern luxuries or much personal freedom. A little dip in a contraband pool would’ve felt like the ultimate victory.
According to user cant_stand on a Reddit thread chronicling the craziest things witnessed by inmates in prison, there are plenty of stories like this. While he was serving time, he witnessed five of the toughest guys in the unit sitting together in the grass making flower crowns. How very sweet and unexpected! They probably rocked them.
According to another user, in his time in jail, he witnessed lots of fart jokes, and card games. Some things never change, do they?
Filling Your Time
All of these anecdotes speak to one thing that’s undeniable about prison: you have lots of unstructured time. Without much access to the outside world, TV, movies, or the Internet, prisoners have to get creative with how they spend their days.
When not working or sleeping, the activities they engage in vary a great deal. Some inmates may choose to get stuck in a book, while others prefer to socialize over a board game or cards. Still others may find materials to make art, or get some writing done. As far as we’re concerned, building your very own swimming pool is a pretty productive use of free time.