Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 4, 2026

Mexico: Cefereso No.16, the "cemetery of the living"

Interview

America Crises Women Justice Mental health Facilities Suicide Social ties Mexico

Designed as a maximum security facility, Cefereso No. 16 is Mexico’s only federal women’s prison, and concern over its living conditions is rising. Interview with Algaraza.

February 24, 2026

Mexico: 23 incarcerated people loose, prison guard dead after cartel stages prison break in Puerto Vallarta

News

America Crises Facilities Mexico

Puerto Vallarta’s regional prison was hit in a coordinated attack, leaving one guard dead and 23 incarcerated people missing. Authorities say armed men rammed a vehicle through the front gate and opened fire, triggering chaos inside the facility.

August 3, 2025

Mexico: prison riot in Veracruz leaves 7 dead, 11 injured as authorities restore order

News

Central America and the Caribbean Health Violence Mexico

Authorities in the Mexican state of Veracruz said they have restored order in a prison where seven incarcerated people were killed and 11 were injured in a riot that broke out.

April 22, 2025

Mexico: overcrowded prisons reveal deep systemic flaws

News

Central America and the Caribbean Pre-trial detention Women Drugs Overcrowding Mexico

Official data from the Mexican government shows the country’s prison system faces a critical overcrowding crisis. By February 2025, 240,212 people were incarcerated in 275 prisons with an official capacity of 224,825.

May 7, 2024

Mexico: unsentenced prisoners vote in 'historic' first

News

Central America and the Caribbean Access to legal rights Mexico

Prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing began voting Monday in Mexico’s presidential election from inside jails - a first for the Latin American nation.

January 12, 2022

Mexico: Torture feeds corruption

Interview

North America Justice Torture Violence Mexico

The use of torture is very common in Mexican prisons and few procedures exist for repairing the damage caused to the victims. The Mexican League for the Defense of Human Rights is taking steps to resolve this situation. Interview.

October 25, 2021

Mexique : La criminalisation des manifestations autochtones

News

North America Discipline Protest Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

May 11, 2021

Mexico: seen in the press / 2021

News

Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis.

May 11, 2021

Mexico: seen in the press / 2022

News

Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 3, 2021

Mexico: población en cárceles crece a ritmo récord en 2020, hay 14 mil reos más que al inicio del año

News

Central America and the Caribbean Overcrowding Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 3, 2021

Mexico: AMLO busca cancelar contratos de cárceles privadas

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 2, 2021

Mexico: the president could cancel private prison contracts

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Mexico

Mexico’s president will seek better terms for the government in private prison contracts signed by his predecessors, he said on Wednesday, adding that he could cancel them if better deals cannot be reached.

December 7, 2020

Mexico: prisons, the permanent war of Covid-19

News

Coronavirus America Access to legal rights Health Material conditions Overcrowding Social ties Mexico

In Mexico, the aftermath of the war on drugs ripples through every aspect of the present, including Covid-19. As for the victims of state violence, it is their families who are left to clean up the mess.

September 24, 2020

México: ¿qué libro le regalarías a una mujer que está en la cárcel?

News

Culture Central America and the Caribbean Women Activities Social ties Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

September 15, 2020

México: las otras pandemias en las cárceles

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Mental health Material conditions Overcrowding Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

July 24, 2020

Mexico: La fallida construcción de la infraestructura penitenciaria como negocio

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Overcrowding Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

July 24, 2020

Mexico: Sobrepoblación en cárceles aviva contagios de covid, critica Cruz Roja

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Facilities Overcrowding Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

July 15, 2020

Mexico: Registra ONG mil 100 contagios de Covid-19 en cárceles

News

Coronavirus America Central America and the Caribbean Health Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

June 4, 2020

Mexico: “salí de una cárcel para ir a otra”, testimonio de un preso liberado por la pandemia

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

May 28, 2020

Mexico: eight inmates killed in prison fight

News

Central America and the Caribbean Violence Mexico

PUENTE GRANDE, Mexico (Reuters) - A violent clash at a prison in Mexico’s central state of Jalisco on Friday left eight inmates dead and another eight prisoners hospitalized with injuries, state security officials said. During the incident at a jail in the Puente Grande complex, three people were k…

April 30, 2020

Mexico: buscan erradicar estigmas penitenciarios a través del empleo

News

Central America and the Caribbean Work Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

April 30, 2020

Mexico: centros penitenciarios, los olvidados en México

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

March 11, 2020

Mexico: mujeres padecen el olvido en las cárceles

News

America Central America and the Caribbean Women Access to legal rights Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 26, 2020

Mexico: el 80 por ciento de cárceles yucatecas carece de médicos

News

America Central America and the Caribbean Health Mexico

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish