Central America and the Caribbean

January 1, 2020

News

Coronavirus: Prison Fever / 2021

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Elderly prisoners Europe Middle East Oceania Health Mental health Material conditions Activities Social ties

The virus has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? Here is an overview. — Update 29/03/2021 Read more

March 19, 2021

Haïti: un rapport évoque la complicité et le manque de gardiens dans l’évasion sanglante de février

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Protest Violence Haiti

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

March 18, 2021

Managing uncertainty in prison: diverse responses to COVID-19

Analysis

Africa Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Material conditions Social ties

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives? Read more

March 17, 2021

Haití: sangrienta fuga de una cárcel, se escaparon 400 presos y hay 25 muertos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Protest Overcrowding Violence Haiti

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

February 12, 2021

Salvador: inside a prison cell for gay former gang members

News

Culture Central America and the Caribbean LGBTI Drugs Violence Religion El Salvador

In April 2019, Carlos Martinez was visiting a prison for gang members in El Salvador, having gained rare access to help with a photography project. A reporter for national newspaper El Faro, Martinez, 41, was used to dealing with the gangs that have over decades made his country one of the most violent…

Source — Time

Read more

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

The private prison contracts were much too expensive and represented the worst of privatization, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at a regular government news conference. “We need to talk to the providers of these services so that an agreement is reached because we consider (the contracts)…

Source — Reuters

Read more

February 2, 2021

Cuba: first coronavirus vaccines reach prison at Guantánamo bay

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Cuba

The first 100 members of the prison staff at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, have received initial vaccines against the coronavirus, the U.S. military said Tuesday evening, although it declined to say whether any of the 40 wartime prisoners at the detention center were offered or received vaccines. Capt. Garrett…

Source — The News Tribune

Read more

January 20, 2021

Americas: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? — Update 29/03/2021 Read more

December 2, 2020

Cuba: Amnistía Internacional pide la liberación de dos presos de conciencia de San Isidro

News

Central America and the Caribbean Access to legal rights Justice Health Cuba

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

November 5, 2020

Jamaica: helping move mentally ill out of prison not an issue

News

Central America and the Caribbean Access to legal rights Mental health Jamaica

“Resources and funding” have been identified by Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton as the hurdles that his ministry would need to clear in order to find suitable spaces so that mentally ill prisoners can be removed from correctional facilities. A recommendation for “some place other than…

Source — Jamaica Observer

Read more

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 24, 2020

El Salvador: el caso de Cindy Erazo y qué supone su liberación para otras 18 mujeres condenadas por la estricta ley contra la interrupción del embarazo

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Women Long-term prisoners Access to legal rights Justice Health El Salvador

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

September 18, 2020

Venezuela: deaths inside prisons doubled during pandemic

News

Central America and the Caribbean Pre-trial detention Health Protest Overcrowding Violence Venezuela

Inmate deaths have doubled in Venezuela’s jails during the coronavirus pandemic, a crisis that underscores how the country’s anarchic prisons foment violence and spread disease. Between March and August of 2020, 287 prisoners died in prisons and police holding cells, a jump from the 137 during the same…

Source — InSight Crime

Read more

September 15, 2020

Nicaragua: mujeres trans hablan desde las prisiones durante la COVID-19

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women LGBTI Access to legal rights Justice Health Material conditions Nicaragua

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

September 14, 2020

El Salvador: "son criminales y no están con este gobierno"

News

Central America and the Caribbean El Salvador

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

July 29, 2020

Costa Rica: Justicia confirma tres casos más del virus en cárceles

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Costa Rica

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

July 27, 2020

Guatemala: Exdirector de cárceles preso por corrupción muere por COVID-19

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Guatemala

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 Central America and the Caribbean Health Mexico

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

July 15, 2020

Cuba: Humiliation non-stop

Testimonial

Central America and the Caribbean Foreign prisoners Access to legal rights Justice Health Material conditions Torture Cuba

Jacques was arrested in February 2017 by the Cuban criminal justice system and was immediately incarcerated in a state owned highly secured prison, held incommunicado for 48 days. Her daughter became fatherless overnight. He was transferred to France in September 2019. He narrates to Prison Insider his… Read more