Prison Population
Unfortunately, the people incarcerated have often not been convicted of any crime; and they often serve more time than they would have if convicted on day one. About 1/3 complete the maximum sentence for the alleged crime before they come to trial.
| Prison Populations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | Total Prison Population | Percent Increase | Inmates per 100,000 People | ||
| 1992 | 1996 | 1999 | |||
| Argentina | 21,016 | 34,228 | 38,604 | 84 | 107 |
| Bolivia | NA | 6,235 (1997) | 8,315 | 33 | 102 |
| Brazil | 114,377 | 148,760 | 194,074 | 70 | 113 |
| Chile | 20,989 | 23,567 | 30,852 | 47 | 205 |
| Colombia | 33,491 | 46,747 | 57,068 | 70 | 153 |
| Costa Rica | 3,346 | 4,722 | 8,526 | 155 | 229 |
| Dominican Republic | 10.800 | 10,387 | 14,188 | 31 | 170 |
| Ecuador | 7.998 | 10,957 | 8,520 | 7 | 69 |
| El Salvador | 5,348 | 7,996 | 6,868 | 28 | 109 |
| Guatemala | NA | 6,387 | 8,169 | 28 | 69 |
| Honduras | 5,717 | 9,480 | 10,869 | 90 | 172 |
| Mexico | 87,723 | 101,200 | 139,707 | 59 | 143 |
| Panama | 4,428 | 7,322 | 8,517 | 92 | 303 |
| Paraguay | NA | 3,427 | 4,088 | 19 | 75 |
| Peru | 17,350 | 23,174 | 27,452 | 58 | 107 |
| Uruguay | 3,037 | 3,268 | 4,012 | 32 | 123 |
| Venezuela | NA | 22,791 | 14,196 | -38 | 60 |
| Justicia Encarelada, Noticias Aliadas/Latinamerica Press 29 (Lima, Peru 2001); Instituto Latinoamericano de las Naciones Unidas papa la Prevención del Delito y el Tratamiento del Delincuente (ILANUD), available at http://www.ilanud.or.cr; Penal Reform Internacional, available at http://www.penalreform.org. | |||||
| Prison Capacity, Sentencing, and Spending | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | % Intended Capacity | % Unsentenced | Spending Per Prisoner* |
| Argentina | Provinicial Average 140% | Average 70% | Varies by Province |
| Bolivia | 162% | 70% | $26 per prisoner/month |
| Brazil | State Average 181% | 45% | Varies by State |
| Chile | 150% | 51% | NA |
| Colombia | 137% | 43% | $1.44 (food only) |
| Costa Rica | 167% | Moderate | NA |
| Cuba | Approx. 175% | Moderate | NA |
| Dominican Republic | 215% | 74% | NA |
| Ecuador | 143% | Severe | NA |
| El Salvador | 135% | 75+% | NA |
| Guatemala | 101% | 62% | NA |
| Honduras | 109% | 90% | $0.40 (food and health) |
| Mexico | State Average 133% | Varies by State | Varies by State |
| Nicaragua | 113% | Moderate | $.058 (food only) |
| Panama | 126% | Severe | NA |
| Paraguay | 212% | 80-90% | NA |
| Peru | 141% | 65+% | $0.75 (food only) |
| Uruguay | 125% | 70+% | NA |
| Venezuela | 160% | 70+% | $1.86 (Total Prison Costs)** | *In federal countries with seperate provincial penitentiary systems, differences can be wide. **El Universal, March 21, 1995, p.B1. |