The French Guiana Penal Colony was a notorious prison system established by France in the 19th century, primarily operating from 1852 to 1953. Located in French Guiana, a territory on the northeastern coast of South America, it was designed to house convicts, including political prisoners and repeat offenders. The harsh conditions and isolation made it infamous, with many inmates suffering from disease and malnutrition. The most well-known facility within the colony was Devil's Island, which became a symbol of the brutal treatment of prisoners. The penal colony's legacy includes the story of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer wrongfully convicted of treason, highlighting issues of injustice and discrimination in the French legal system.