Nestled in the sea between England and France, you'll find the Channel Islands, where the Island of Sark is by far the smallest.
Measuring just under 5 kilometers long and 1.6 kilometers wide, everything on this tiny, secluded island is within walking distance - which is fortunate as there are neither cars nor roads on the island.
The current population is around 600 people.
You may not be charged for speeding or drunk driving, but that does not mean you have a get-out-of-jail-free card while visiting Sark Island.
It is home to the world’s smallest prison, and it is still in full operation.
A Tiny Prison on a Tiny Island
The prison was built back in 1856 and consists of only two cells – one measuring 6 feet by 6 feet and the other 6 feet by 8 feet.
The cells are separated by a narrow corridor and contain small, wood-slatted beds with thin mattresses.
The world’s smallest prison, unsurprisingly, has very limited capacity and can only hold inmates for a maximum of two days. After that, they must be transferred to the larger prison facilities on the neighboring Guernsey Island.
Historical Background
The Guernsey Courts ordered the construction of a new prison in 1832 because the original one was deemed unfit. However, budget constraints delayed the construction for over two decades.
The new prison was finally completed in 1856 and has been in operation ever since.
Despite the island's low crime rate, the prison is still technically operational and occasionally holds rowdy tourists or drunk locals.
One of the most famous inmates was André Gardes.
Gardes was an unemployed French nuclear physicist who believed he was the rightful heir and owner of Sark Island.
He attempted to invade the island as a one-man army, plastering posters announcing his invasion. When he arrived with a semi-automatic rifle, he was promptly punched in the face by the Constable on duty, disarmed, and arrested.
Modern Updates
While the structure of the prison has remained largely unchanged, it now has electricity and heating, making it somewhat more comfortable than it used to be.
However, it still lacks windows.
