Central America and the Caribbean

September 29, 2023

El Salvador: incarceration rate triples that of US

News

Central America and the Caribbean Justice Overcrowding El Salvador

El Salvador has imprisoned 1.6% of its 6.3 million citizens. That gives it an incarceration rate triple that of the US and more than double that of Cuba.

September 21, 2023

Panama: fighting for my life

Testimonial

Central America and the Caribbean Women Health Material conditions Social ties Panama

Yonta J. was incarcerated in a Panamanian prison for three years, from March 2015 to January 2018. She faced hardships that still impact her life today. This is the story of her daily life in prison.

July 31, 2023

El Salvador: mass trials planned for those imprisoned in gang crackdown

News

Central America and the Caribbean Overcrowding Torture El Salvador

New rules passed by El Salvador’s congress Wednesday will allow courts to try accused gang members in mass trials, in an effort to expedite tens of thousands of cases for those detained under the country’s crackdown on street gangs.

July 7, 2023

Honduras: adoption of El Salvador-style tactics in anti-gang crackdown on prison inmates

News

Central America and the Caribbean Torture Honduras

Authorities in Honduras forced inmates to sit half-naked in tight rows while they searched for contraband in a sweep of prisons Monday, similar to the harsh tactics of neighbouring El Salvador. The military police — who have taken charge of the nation’s prisons — fanned out across several prisons,…

June 28, 2023

Honduras: 41 dead after riot erupts in honduran women’s prison

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women Violence Honduras

The inmates were found shot or burned to death in the latest spasm of violence in the country’s troubled prison system.

June 12, 2023

Haiti: "inhumane conditions" in jail says Rights Group

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Haiti

Human rights group, RNDDH, is concerned that police reliance on makeshift prisons amid insecurity and a crippled judicial system, makes for “inhumane, degrading conditions in overcrowded cells”. The group reported after visiting six police stations in Haiti’s Ouest Department. They recommend urging…

March 7, 2023

France: on camera

Interview

Central America and the Caribbean Activities Rehabilitation France

Basse-Terre prison in Guadeloupe provides prisoner rehabilitation programmes. Film director Mark Alexandre Montout visited the prison to film a cookery competition. Interview.

February 22, 2023

Nicaragua: The country frees hundreds of political prisoners to the United States

News

Central America and the Caribbean Justice Nicaragua

The authoritarian government of Daniel Ortega handed over 222 prisoners as a way to signal a desire to restart relations with the United States, according to officials.

February 8, 2023

El Salvador: A visit to new 'mega-prison' points to severe conditions

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities El Salvador

Conditions inside a huge new mega-prison designed to house 40,000 alleged gang members will be particularly severe.

November 8, 2022

Venezuela : quand les caïds font des prisons de luxueuses dictatures du crime

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Violence Venezuela

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

October 18, 2022

Argentina: debaten habeas corpus en audiencia tras denuncia de irregularidades en la cárcel de Mujeres

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women Overcrowding Argentina

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

October 14, 2022

Ecuador: seis presos heridos deja un motín en cárcel

News

Central America and the Caribbean Violence Ecuador

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

October 14, 2022

Cuba : las dramáticas condiciones de detención en las que está José Daniel Ferrer

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Cuba

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

October 14, 2022

Équateur : onze blessés lors de nouveaux "affrontements" dans une prison

News

Central America and the Caribbean Violence Ecuador

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

September 30, 2022

Panama : recyclage en détention, réinsertion en conditionnelle

News

Central America and the Caribbean Rehabilitation Panama

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

September 30, 2022

Haïti : 145 prisonnières s’évadent d’une prison

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women Haiti

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

September 21, 2022

Haïti: presos del país afrontan inanición y muerte

News

Central America and the Caribbean Mental health Haiti

Cientos de privados de la libertad han muerto en las prisiones de Haití en los últimos meses debido a que los centros penitenciarios de ese país están carcomidos por la corrupción, la violencia de pandillas y los malos manejos

September 20, 2022

Haiti: prisoners face starvation and death

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Haiti

Scores of prisoners in Haiti’s penitentiaries have died this year as the country’s penal institutions have been gutted by corruption, gang violence, and mismanagement.

September 20, 2022

Nicaragua: political prisoners

News

Central America and the Caribbean Justice Nicaragua

A human rights disaster that for years has received too little international attention.

September 5, 2022

Nicaragua: envejecidos, pálidos y escuálidos: las huellas del orteguismo en los presos políticos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Justice Nicaragua

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

September 5, 2022

Venezuela: gobierno reconoce sobrepoblación en cárceles y ordena excarcelaciones

News

Central America and the Caribbean Overcrowding Venezuela

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

September 5, 2022

Salvador: más de 400 reas fueron trasladadas de cárcel de mujeres

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women Material conditions El Salvador

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

September 5, 2022

Guatemala: el país tiene la tasa de ocupación más alta en cárceles de Latinoamérica

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Overcrowding Guatemala

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

September 5, 2022

Salvador: the country builds giant prison complex for 40,000 gang members

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Overcrowding El Salvador

The so-called Terrorism Confinement Center will be ready within 60 days, Bukele said in a post on Twitter, accompanied by a video of construction work at the site.