Moderators Moderator_03 Posted July 30, 2023 Moderators Share Posted July 30, 2023 Quote Overcrowding in Panama prisons continues to grow Posted 29/07/2023 Despite the gradual implementation of the Accusatory Penal System (SPA), which sought to speed up the time for criminal proceedings, promote alternative methods of conflict resolution, and limit the number of people in preventive detention, the figures of the Directorate of the Penitentiary System reveal that the prison population has grown and, until June, there were 22,744 inmates. In 2020, there were 17,967 people in Panamanian jails; in three years the figure rose by 4,777 creating another problem: overcrowding. The most overcrowded prisons are La Joya and La Joyita. 65% of inmates are sentenced and the remaining 35% are waiting for their process to conclude under provisional detention. Former prosecutor Rolando Rodríguez told La Prensa that the overcrowding of prisons reflects the absence of adequate management structures to achieve the resocialization of those deprived of liberty. With the advent of the SPA it was thought that a decrease in the number of prisoners would be achieved, but the reality has been different. He thinks that Panamanian society was not prepared for a system that promotes the alternative solution to conflicts and that, on the contrary, requires that whoever offends be behind bars. He stressed that the feeling of abandonment produces social resentment in the detainee, generated by the violations of their human rights within the prisons. Criminologist Julio Alonso stressed that despite the demolition of the Modelo prison in 1996 and the inauguration of La Nueva Joya in 2014, overcrowding in prisons has grown to reach today's figures. No classification He said there has never been a process for classifying inmates and that inmates prosecuted for serious crimes are placed in the same as inmates accused of minor crimes. Alonso argues that this is the perfect combination for the emergence of criminal groups that operate in various areas of society and that are a reflection of what we see on the streets. So, he says, the solution would not be to build prisons with greater capacity but to apply reinsertion programs to give the offender an opportunity to get away from criminal life. Figures from the Penitentiary System detail that in La Nueva Joya there is no overcrowding While the prisons of La Joya, with a population of 3,863 and an overcrowding of 1,568 detainees, and La Joyita, with 4,532 inmates and an overcrowding of 2,837 Both agree that as long as there is no defined prison policy and preventive detention is the most used precautionary measure in the system, the figures for overcrowding in prisons will continue to increase. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/overcrowding-in-panama-prisons-continues-to-grow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_03 Posted August 5, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted August 5, 2023 Quote Prisoners transferred after party at Colón prison went viral Posted 04/08/2023 A group of prisoners have been transferred from the Nueva Esperanza prison, in the province of Colón to other jails after videos circulated on social media of a party with a flare pistol, alcoholic beverages, and even an exclusive table for food. The videos of the celebration −were recorded from the cell phones owned by inmates. At the birthday party for one of the inmates described as a “capo”− sweets, the decoration (with lights included) and sound equipment can be seen. As a result of this celebration, the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System (DGSP) announced on Friday, the decision to transfer a group of inmates to other prisons. This was a disciplinary measure after they "violated the regulations and rules of coexistence" in the Nueva Esperanza prison. The DGSP, under the responsibility of Euclides Castillo, also detailed that the Inspectorate Department opened an internal investigation to establish responsibilities "in the case of finding officials involved." The investigations will continue to identify other inmates who participated in the activity to proceed with the sanctions and transfers to be determined. The Nueva Esperanza Penitentiary Complex, located in the township of Cristóbal, began operations in June 1996 and currently, houses 2,400 men and 97 women. Check this video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tKyzIZmYE_Y https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/prisoners-transferred-after-party-at-colon-prison-went-viral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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