Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

19 August. According to the prison administration, the only prison in the country has been free from COVID-19 since May. The health protocols (such as tests, quarantines, wearing a mask, etc.) remain. A vaccination campaign took place in March, and another was in preparation.

27 April. Her Majesty’s Prison launched a mass testing operation for incarcerated people and staff. Around 50% of the prisoners have been tested.

15 March. Vaccinations began in Her Majesty’s Prison 1735. One hundred prisoners and 36 staff members received their first dose.

Acts of protest¶

22 March. Prison officers protested their work conditions. They reported having to sometimes work more than 24 hours without proper protection, without risk insurance against COVID-19.

Identified cases¶

25 August. An untried prisoner tested positive for coronavirus. Authorities stated that he was placed in quarantine upon arrival and that he did not pose any danger to other prisoners and staff members as there was no contact.

27 April. Thirty-seven prisoners tested positive for COVID-19 at Her Majesty’s Prison; twenty-eight of them have recovered.

22 March. Thirty-four prisoners tested positive.

15 March. Thirty-two prisoners at Her Majesty’s Prison 1735 tested positive for COVID-19. They were quarantined awaiting the completion of dedicated isolation quarters.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

12 July. The La Plata Court of Appeal ordered the government in Buenos Aires to come up with a vaccination plan, in five days, for all prisoners over age 60 and minors, two vulnerable groups.

13 January. The government announced that there are now 12 quarantine centres (centros de aislamiento sanitarios): 10 in Buenos Aires province, one in Santa Fe province and one in Córdoba. It plans to have a total of 31 centres (786 beds) built in various facilities throughout the country, in order to improve the healthcare infrastructure and access to care.

Appeals and recommendations¶

1 May. The government decision to release incarcerated people to limit the spread of COVID-19 in prison facilities has been controversial. The president stated publically that this issue was in the hands of the Justice System.

22 April. The Provincial Memory Commission (PMC) called on the ministries of Justice and of Health to implement the measures needed to protect the prison population. The coordinator of the organisation, Roberto Cipriano, denounced “a failing health system, lacking professionals, medicines and protocols”. The Commission is concerned about prison overcrowding and the low number of vaccinations and tests carried out in Buenos Aires prisons.

18 March. Amnesty International denounced the abuses caused by the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in prisons. Prison authorities isolated prisoners, sometimes for 23 hours a day for several weeks or months. Netsanet Belay, Research and Advocacy Director with Amnesty International, stated: “In some cases, these could amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Humane measures to protect prisoners must be put in place now.”

Identified cases¶

10 June. Between April and May, federal prisons recorded 64 positive cases and at least three deaths. There have been 174 positive cases since the beginning of the year. This increase, mainly observed in prisons for women, namely in Ezeiza and La Pampa, is cause for concern.

10 May. From the onset of the pandemic to 30 April 2021, 619 people in federal prisonshave contracted COVID-19. Eighteen deaths were recorded. The increase in infections during April 2021 caused concern: 42 cases were in federal prisons, 16 were reported in the Buenos Aires Alcaidías and commissariat headquarters, which are used as informal detention centres, and 7 in juveniles centres.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

21 September. A vaccination campaign begun for hundreds of Dodds prisoners. Only volunteers received doses, while others were being encouraged to get vaccinated.

Contact with the outside world¶

17 January. Virtual visits remained suspended at Dodds prison, according to the Minister of Home Affairs. He stated that “all non-essential services in the prison have been cut out entirely”, because of a staff shortage, and that he was not “prepared to sacrifice the security of the prison just to accommodate what is not an essential service”. However, inmates were still allowed to call their families.

5 Janvier. Virtual visits were suspended at Island’s Dodds prison as a result of several guards being infected and having to quarantine. The prison lacked the staff to conduct these visits safely.

Identified cases¶

12 August. Health protocols have been reactivated at HMP Dodds facility after ten prisoners showed flu-like symptoms. Prisoners who have not had two negative PCR tests are prohibited from attending their hearings. Only the first tests have been executed and have been negative.

27 April. Dodds prison detected one positive case among its personnel. Authorities applied a strict protocol to prevent any spread. They reported: “All persons with whom that individual would have come into contact have been tested and they are all negative”.

21 January. The virus continued to spread in Dodds prison: 258 inmates and 99 staff members tested positive.

5 Janvier. Officials announced that 49 staff members and 121 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 at Island’s Dodds prison. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) wanted to determine if the new strain of the virus was present among the newly identified cases.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

26 April A prisoner at Westgate prison was placed in isolation for 28 days. He had asked for an alternative to the nasal test because he had reacted badly to it a year ago.

Judicial system¶

12 October. Courts restricted their operations to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. A government representative explained: “The courts must reduce services further as part of protective measures which are necessary to implement to assist in the efforts to reduce the community spread of COVID-19.”

Acts of protest¶

4 June. The Minister of National Security reported that the COVID-19 restrictions had increased tensions in the prisons. She said that “the morale and behaviour of inmates had deteriorated because of a block on visits.”

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

28 April The Committee of Lawyers for Public Defense (Defensoria Pública) denounced the state of São Paulo before the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) for violating the rights of incarcerated people during the pandemic. These violations were observed during the committee’s 21 surprise visits. In particular, the lawyers observed problems in accessing water. About 85% of the facilities they visited limited this access. In some cases, water usage was limited to a time slot of two hours a day. The São Paulo prison administration said prisoners are allowed a “sufficient amount” of water.

25 January. The Pastoral Carcerária NGO published a report on the human rights violations in prisons between March and October 2020. The organisation reported it had received 90 complaints about violations and torture. This represents an increase of 63% in the number of complaints received compared to the same period in 2019, in spite of the communication difficulties between outside organisations and inmates. In particular, inmates denounced the shortage of food and toiletries and poor access to medical care, as well as humiliating and degrading conditions. Many reported inadequate quarantine measures: inmates with COVID-19 symptoms and tuberculosis were kept together with other inmates.

Sentence adjustments¶

January. Human Rights Watch stated that between March and September 2020 approximately 53,700 prisoners were placed under house arrest in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This represents less than 7% of the country’s prison population.

Contact with the outside world¶

19 February. Some prisons in the state of São Paulo have suspended visits again following the confirmation of new clusters.

8 February. A group of about 20 women protested in front of the Agronômica prison in Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State). The women were demanding, among other things, “ decent food“ for their loved ones and the resumption of conjugal visits. The prison’s administration stated that this prison had put measures in place to allow for virtual communication between inmates and their families, such as e-mails and video calls, to make up for the suspended visits.

6 January. Visits have been suspended again, at least until 20 January, at Palmas prison, in Tocantins. The decision was made after confirming a new case of COVID-19 among the prisoners. The suspension could be reviewed after assessment by the authorities. They mentioned that prisoners can still benefit from calls and videoconferences. A lawyer criticised the decision and reported difficulties communicating with her client, highlighting the importance of face-to-face meetings when preparing defence. In 2020, visits in the state of Tocantins were suspended between March and November.

Acts of protest¶

18 February. A riot broke out at the Ponta Porã prison (Mato Grosso do Sul), near the border with Paraguay. Inmates denounced, among other things, the spread of the virus in that facility. Prison officials stated that this was one individual’s action and not a group one. The media reported that the intervention by the authorities lasted 10 hours, one staff member was taken hostage and seven inmates took part in the disturbance.

Appeals and recommendations¶

3 October The National Prevention Mechanism (NPM) published a report on prison conditions during the pandemic. It pointed out that the cells were dirty and poorly ventilated, there was a lack of potable water and limited access to toilets. Female prisoners in the State of Acre who had symptoms were being placed in a section that was even more crowded than the others: 15 individuals had to share four places. Authorities in the State of Amapá handed out “COVID kits” that had not been scientifically proven.

Identified cases¶

19 February Prisons in the state of São Paulo are those with the greatest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the Brazilian prison system. A total of 12,144 inmates have been infected and 37 have died. The number of infected prison staff was 2,695 and 42 of them have died.

In the state of Sergipe, the number of confirmed cases rose by 80 % in one month.
20 January. The number of inmates who tested positive increased to 57,454 (43,799 inmates and 13,655 prison staff). The number of deaths grew by 4.5% compared to December. A total of 229 people died from COVID-19 (130 inmates and 99 staff members).

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

19 September. Nearly 75.7 % of incarcerated people in federal prisons have been vaccinated.

27 April. In Quebec, a vaccination campaign was rolled out at Roberval prison for 150 to 250 people, including prisoners and correctional officers.

2 April. In Quebec, vaccines had not yet been administered in prison. There were concerns about the lack of a vaccination schedule in provincial prisons. Correctional officers reported that 10% of staff had contracted the virus.

7 March. The families of prisoners at Drumheller Prison raised the alarm about the deterioration of prisoners’ mental health. Prisoners were placed in solitary confinement for over two months, and a suicide attempt was reported. Inmates were allowed out of their cells for less than an hour each day, with very limited access to the canteen, showers and hygiene products.

18 February. Lawyer Nadia Golmier spoke out about detention conditions of inmates in the province of Québec, the one most affected by the recent upsurge in the number of cases. Some of the inmates, especially those from indigenous communities, are kept in their cells 24 hours a day. Books are banned and access to showers is very limited.

3 February. The connection between high infection rates and prison design was analysed in a report. Medium-security facilities (98% of infections) and women’s multi-security level penitentiaries seem to be the most at risk.

6 January. Some 600 older and/or vulnerable prisoners in federal prisons are about to be vaccinated. This policy was criticised by Conservatives. According to the Minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair, there are some “individuals detained within our federal institutions who have pre-existing health conditions, and are therefore more at risk to COVID-19, very similar to those elderly individuals living in long-term care facilities”. Blair called on everyone to take responsibility.

3 January. In Saskatchewan, the lack of movement and activities is weighing heavily on the mental health of inmates. A family member said the only thing the prison is doing to curb the pandemic is restricting movement.

Links with the outside world¶

6 July. Visitations resumed gradually in federal correctional institutions. There are limits on the number of visitors allowed and the length of visits. Visits must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

10 March. The Barton Solidarity project reported that at Hamilton Wentworth , contact between prisoners and their families is only allowed through indirect messages. To communicate, families may leave messages on the facility’s answering machine, which may take up to three weeks to be passed on to prisoners. In addition, prisoners have no phone access to contact their lawyers.

Protest movements¶

9 July. In the province of Saskatchewan, the prison service was examining around a hundred complaints from prisoners. All the complaints have been lodged during the pandemic and indicate a “feeling of abandonment”. 
Confusion has led to the infection of hundreds of people (staff, prisoners and their family and friends), in the absence of clear rules and coordination. Opposition politicians blame the officials in charge.

10 March. A member of the Barton Solidarity Project reported that over 50 prisoners went on a hunger strike protest at Hamilton Wentworth prison, demanding better detention conditions. In particular, they asked for improved access to basic hygiene products such as soap, cleaning products, and bedding. They also asked for regular access to the prison yard. Prisoners have reportedly not been outside for more than a month, and are demanding the reinstatement of visits and phone privileges with their lawyers.

Appeals and recommendations¶

8 September. The release of prisoners in Ontario has been linked to an increase in opioid-related incidents in this province (overdose, violence, self-harm, etc.). One study showed that temporary releases, or paroles, have disrupted the continuity of opioid agonist therapy (OAT).

15 July. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) recommended that support be increased for justice-involved people: “COVID-19 has highlighted the need to address the service gaps and risks facing people living with mental illness and problematic substance use in Canadian correctional facilities ”.

29 April. A professor at the University of Regina called for the vaccination of all prisoners and staff in the province of Saskatchewan. He pointed out the problematic pre-pandemic hygiene and health conditions, writing that “the province needs to do more to protect inmates and staff, and the province’s vaccine approach remains indifferent and uncaring to these populations at risk.”

28 April. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was “perfect” for vulnerable or marginalized populations, according to an infectious disease expert. Its conservation (no ultra-low temperatures) and administration (single-dose vaccine) methods made it easier to use.

14 April. The CCLA highlighted the vulnerability of prisoners to new variants of the virus. The organisation also stated that the number of people incarcerated was again rising, after a significant drop in the previous year. This slow but visible decline at the federal level was mainly attributed to the decline in incarceration orders (court closures) combined with the usual ending sentences. Provincial prisons, on the other hand, had been experiencing a new influx of people since late 2020. Many of these prisoners were believed to have been federal prisoners awaiting transfer.

3 February. In a policy brief, the Royal Society shared its main requests: to promote release measures, introduce COVID-19 rapid testing, reduce the use of remand, etc. These recommendations were classified by establishment and population types.

11 January. Researchers and human rights activists called for more stringent measures to be put in place to protect inmates. Some inmates do not have enough masks and sanitisers.

Researchers and human rights activists called for more stringent measures to be put in place to protect inmates. Some inmates do not have enough masks and sanitisers.

6 January. Prison guards have asked for priority access to vaccinations.

Identified cases¶

19 October. Sherbrooke prison in Quebec reported an increase in COVID-19 infections: 33 inmates tested positive. The Rivière-des-Prairies prison in Montreal experienced a similar trend. The two outbreaks were connected as an asymptomatic inmate from Rivière-des-Prairies institution was transferred to the Sherbrooke institution. Mathieu Lavoie, president of union representing prison guards in Quebec, confirmed: “There has been an abandonment of these measures. We don’t have access to rapid tests. It’s like Groundhog Day. COVID had disappeared from detention facilities. In the past few months there had been a few outbreaks, but it was targeted. It’s coming back in force. We seem to have forgotten the procedures.”

18 October. Sudbury Jail in Ontario was temporarily closed for at least two weeks in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. Nearly 145 inmates were transferred to other facilities. Those who tested positive for COVID-19 were isolated from the general population.

19 June. The district of North Bay-Parry Sound has recorded a significant increase in cases. A third of cases in the region have been recorded in the prison of North Bay.

29 April. In Quebec, Donnacona prison had 14 positive cases (seven prisoners and seven staff members). It conducted contact tracing and testing. Vaccines were reportedly distributed.

22 April. In Saskatchewan, the Regina prison had 136 cases, including prisoners and staff. Indigenous persons account for 80% of the province’s prisoners.

2 April. At New Carlisle prison, in Quebec, all prisoners reportedly contracted COVID-19.

12 March. The management at Drumheller Prison reported 70 positive COVID-19 cases among inmates, and 21 cases among staff members. The Red Cross was called to help manage the epidemic inside the prison.

10 March. A total of 72 people, including 51 inmates, were reported positive for COVID-19 at the Hamilton Wentworth facility.

23 February. An Ombudsman report (Correctional Investigator) revealed that 10% of inmates around the country has been infected, compared to 2% of the general population. It was recommended that the most vulnerable inmates be vaccinated, and that authorities consider alternatives to incarceration.

3 February. Provincial and state prisons reported 5,000 cases at the end of January. Of these, over 1,000 were officers.

28 January. In Quebec, 14 officers and four prisoners tested positive at Bordeaux prison. A test was administered to all inmates. One of the establishment’s wings was quarantined for 14 days.

11 January. Researchers were alarmed at the number of positive cases detected during the last few weeks. More than 1,962 cases were identified since the beginning of December 2020. This number is greater than that recorded during the first nine months of the pandemic.

3 January. In Saskatchewan, Prince Albert prison reported 109 cases. This facility has the highest number of cases in the country.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

22 October. The prison authorities in Los Ríos tested 1485 prisoners.

23 June. Valparaiso prison ended a two week quarantine, during which 119 prisoners were kept in isolation. Four prisoners, who were still positive, remained in isolation. Visits were resumed.

31 May. A total of 42,694 people in the prison system have received the first vaccine dose (27,538 prisoners, 15,156 staff members). Some 32,268 people have received the second dose.

28 May. The health crisis has exacerbed the menstrual precariousness of female prisoners as it has impeded the access to water and hygienic protection. Aids Healthcare Foundation distributed 6,000 packages of sanitary napkins for incarcerated women around the country.

10 May. Prison officials put an end to the quarantining of 115 prisoners in Temuco prison for health reasons. They are now allowed to resume some of their prison activities.

27 April. A large number of PCR tests (2,613) were conducted on incarcerated people in the prisons of the Araucanie region.

20 April. Since the onset of the pandemic, Chilean authorities have vaccinated 31,847 persons, 18,747 of whom are prisoners and 13,100 are prison staff. A total of 14,793 people have received a second dose by now.

19 April The La Serena facility recorded 717 people deprived or liberty had received their first dose of the vaccine. A total of 199 prisoners have received their second dose.

Contact with the outside world¶

17 August. The conjugal visits resumed at Valparaiso prison, after a year of suspension. These were planned according to the prisoner’s and the visitor’s vaccination statuses. Any new epidemic outbreaks could suspend visitation rights.

7 May. Limache prison in the Valparaiso region is under quarantine following a flare-up of the pandemic.

30 March Relatives of prisoners at Acha prison held a demonstration to demand information on the the health condition of prisoners who are quarantined and sick with COVID-19.

21 March. The city of Valdivia was placed under quarantine. Hence, prisoners can no longer have visits.

Appeals and recommendations¶

6 September. A group of soldiers filed a complaint against the Minister of Justice, Hernán Larraín. The group’s lawyer claimed that five prisoners died in Colina and Punta Peuco prisons as a result of the Ministry of Justice’s “negligence”.

8 September. An association of retired generals and colonels filed a complaint against the state for their negligence of prisoners during the pandemic. A lawyer for the association denounced the “dehumanisation” of the prison population by the Ministry of Justice.

Identified cases¶

22 October. The Valvidia Correctional Facility reported a new wave of infections. Five prisoners tested positive. The number of contact cases was then unknown. The region of Los Ríos confirmed a total of 131 positive prisoners.

9 September. One of the Santiago prisonsrecorded 80 prisoners positive for COVID-19. Officials also announced the death of two prisoners.

8 September. Punta Peuco prison announced that two prisoners died following an outbreak of the virus.

24 August. Punta Peuco prison recorded 27 positive cases. Transfers, visits and medical consultations were suspended. Official sources indicated that all the prisoners at the facility had been vaccinated against the coronavirus and the flu. This facility houses military prisoners accused of committing crimes against humanity during the Pinochet dictatorship.

6 August. In Antofagasta prison 114 prisoners tested positive for coronavirus. The prison administration indicated that they “were immediately isolated, following the established health protocol”.

5 July. Forty prisoners at Alto Bonito prison in Puerto Montt in the Los Lagos region tested positive for COVID-19. According to authorities, this outbreak was due to visits. Prisoners who tested positive were quarantined.

15 June. Health authorities reported that 83 prisoners and seven prison staff members were positive for COVID-19 at San Carlos prison in Nuble. Prison authorities stated that the situation was “under control” and that almost the entire prison population has been vaccinated.

17 May Chilean officials recorded 8,227 positive cases in the country’s prisons (5,459 prisoners and 2,768 staff members) and 30 deaths (25 prisoners, five staff members).

8 June. Valparaiso prison was in full lockdown following a wave of infection. Approximately 119 cases of COVID-19 were detected. According to the authorities, positive prisoners were isolated from the others. PCR tests were carried out on the rest of the prisoners and prison staff.

31 May. Prison administration reported 8,490 COVID-19 cases in local prisons (5,663 prisoners, and 2,827 staff members). The virus caused 32 deaths among both prisoners and staff.

19 May. One prisoner died from a severe form of pneumonia caused by COVID-19 in Santiago prison.

4 May. Authorities recorded 7,962 positive cases (5,250 prisoners and 2,712 correctional officers) in the country’s prisons.

3 May. An 83-year-old incarcerated at the Santiago prison died of COVID-19.

27 April. The Araucania region reported 394 positive cases, including 85 at Temuco prison.

20 April. Chilean authorities recorded 7,344 cases in all country’s prisons. A total of 4,729 were prisoners, and 2,615 were prison staff. Twenty-seven deaths were reported (22 prisoners and five officers).

19 April Villarica prison recorded 114 new cases. Authorities said there were 111 cases among prisoners and three among staff. Fifteen prisoners tested positive at La Serena prison.

12 April. Ten prison officers and 89 incarcerated people tested positive for COVID-19 at Talca prison.

31 March. Rancagua prison in Santiago reported 93 positive cases out of 300 performed tests. No staff tested positive.

30 March. At least 371 prisoners tested positive at Acha prison, where one death was reported.

28 January. Prison officials (Gendarmería de Chile) report regularly on data concerning COVID-19 cases in the country’s prisons. A total of 2,611 inmates and 1,971 staff members tested positive. Twenty-one deaths were reported: (18 inmates and 3 staff members).

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

27 July. The vaccination campaign begun at San Sebastián de Ternera prison with the aim to resume visitations. During a “pilot vaccination day”, 44 prisoners got their vaccine. According to the prison warden, the facility has only identified five cases out of 1,850 prisoners. The prison administration indicated that vaccinations would be carried out in the women’s prison afterwards.

3 July. Prison officials (Inpec) announced that the local health department would hold the vaccination drive for prisoners in Bogota facilities from 6 to 13 July. The director of Inpec said: “Next week we will begin mass vaccination in the capital’s national prisons, then in the head office of Inpec; this is for the benefit of our staff and their health and, logically, for the people for whom we are responsible”.

3 July. Prison officials (Inpec) reported that 15,865 prisoners and 1,986 employees have received the vaccine. Leticia, San Andrés, Barranquilla, and La Guajira prisons are the first ones in the national prison system, up to now, to have their entire populations vaccinated.

27 June. The fourth phase of the national vaccination plan began in Baranquilla. This phase included prisoners, as well as prison staff. In Modelo prison, 997 prisoners have been vaccinated. El Bosque prison and El Buen Pastor women’s prison were also included.

26 June. From 28 June, approximately 600 people were transferred from police stations and rapid response units in Cali to prisons in Jamundi, Palmira and Cali. These transfers were aimed to reduce overcrowding in police stations and in rapid response units, which were at a 150% occupancy.

22 June. Transfers to Sincelejo prison have been suspended. This resulted in overcrowding at the local temporary detention centre: “As the prison does not have adequate isolation facilities for new arrivals, it was decided that they should remain in these transit centres to protect them from the virus”.

19 March. The second phase of the vaccination campaign started in Bogota. 437 prisoners over age 80 were vaccinated. A total of 643 must be vaccinated.

24 January. Prison officials reported that the occupation rate fell from 154.9% to 120.2% in the last few months.

Judicial system¶

19 October. Five officers were accused of torture with aggravating circumstances. The incident took place on the evening of 21 March 2020 at La Modelo prison in Bogota, where a prisoner demonstration against sanitary measures was violently suppressed, leaving 24 dead and over 100 injured. Three officers had already been arrested.

12 January. The Minister of Justice announced that 576 suspects placed in the police stations of Bogotá will be transferred to prisons. The ministry’s goal is to reduce overcrowding in the capital’s police quarters by around 21%. Authorities confirmed that transfers will be carried out in accordance with health protocols and prisoners will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.

Sentence adjustments¶

3 October The Minister of Justice reported that : “Eighteen months ago, our rate of overcrowding was 54.5%, today we can say that the average overcrowding rate in the 132 national prisons is 17.1%”.

Contact with the outside world¶

24 June. Prisoners of unit 1 in Barranquilla’s Modelo prison received family visits for the first time in 15 months.

Rodrigo de Bastidas prison in Santa Marta partially reinstated visits. They had been suspended since March 2020.

11 April. The National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Instituto National Penitenciario y Carcelario, INPEC) announced the suspension of visits in 17 Antioquia prisons.

13 March. Conjugal and family visits were resumed in prisons, under strict health measures.

9 January. The prison administration suspended visits and temporary leaves of 72-hours until 21 January, due to the increase of positive cases in the country’s prisons.

Acts of protest¶

22 June. Visits to La Vega (Sincelejo) prison were suspended after detecting several COVID-19 cases in the women’s section. Prisoners went on a hunger strike in May to protest against visit suspension.

1 March. Eleven women received compensation, following a decision by the State Council, for the “terrible” detention conditions which they had endured.

Appeals and recommendations¶

29 August. The Controller General of the Republic pointed out that “the pandemic has brought to light several structural problems with the prison and penal system and, the entire legal system in general. It has still been impossible to consolidate a coherent and efficient penal policy to reduce incarceration and to guarantee the progressive improvement of the penal system. “ This statement was addressed to the Constitutional Court.

29 August. The Controller General of the Republic revealed that prison officials have misused the money from the Emergency Mitigation Fund (Fondo de Mitigación de Emergencias, Fome) which was intended for managing the pandemic.

It stated that the Unit of Correctional and Prison Services of Colombia (USPEC) “used 54.8 % of the sums allocated to the Justice sector to buy weapons and bulletproof equipment for 12,903 million pesos” (about 3,276 million USD). Officials justified this expense by saying it was needed for the March 2020 riot in La Modelo prison. The incident led to the death of 23 prisoners. The expenses were approved by the Ministry of Finance.

17 May. The Constitutional Court ordered the Justice Ministry and prison officials to allow prisoners access to virtual calls. They now have to allow prisoners to have one virtual visit per month, in order to guarantee visit rights and the right to family unity.

17 March. Andes University Association in Bogota, Grupo de Prisiones and Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas presented a list of recommendations to get through the prison crisis. They pointed out that the condition of prisoners during the pandemic should be treated as a public health issue ─ which does not mean jeopardizing public safety. In fact, “the pandemic has had a greater impact on the incarcerated population than on the general population. (…) The number of positive cases is significantly higher in the former.”

11 April. The representative of the Medellín municipality, William Vivas, called on the authorities to accelerate the prison vaccination campaign. He sounded the alarm about the degree of prison overcrowding, especially in the El Pedregal facility where 89 cases among prisoners have been detected.

Identified cases¶

24 August. Two prisoners at the Pereira (Risaralda) prison died from the coronavirus. The two deceased had refused to be vaccinated. Most of the 700 prisoners of the facility have been vaccinated. The establishment has 18 cases.

21 June. Ten staff members and 32 prisoners at Modelo prison in Bucaramanga tested positive. Three wards were quarantined. The facility recorded one COVID-19 related death the previous week.

19 May. Valledupar prison established new health restrictions after a wave of infections. There were 120 positive cases among prisoners and staff, but most of the symptoms were mild and only one person was hospitalised.

8 May Cartagena Women’s Prison reported 8 positive cases (4 prisoners, 4 staff members) out of their 168 prisoners.

11 April. Eighty positive COVID-19 cases were reported in El Pedegral prison (Medellín).

9 April. More than 70 incarcerated people tested positive in El Pedregal prison (Medellín). The National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Instituto National Penitenciaro y Carcelario, INPEC) pointed out that 80 people were transferred to the facility one week prior to the report.

19 March. Eighty-two positive cases were reported in the Bogota prisons.

2 February. At least 73 people, among the inmates and staff, from San Gil prison (Santander) tested positive. The new cluster was identified after transferring 15 prisoners from police premises to this facility. This prison, which house around 360 prisoners, was placed in lockdown.

26 January. Prison officials reported a total of 21,448 COVID-19 positive inmates since the pandemic started.

About 74% of inmates at Pácora prison tested positive for COVID-19. Officials said that people who are infected are quarantined and most of them are asymptomatic. The head of the facility said he encouraged inmates to wear masks and to wash their hands frequently.

2 January. Contagion increased in Modelo prison in Cúcuta. The prison administration confirmed that around 50 inmates tested positive. One staff member died from COVID-19 and six were infected. The prisoner’s families mentioned that they have not been updated regarding their relatives’ health conditions.

Identified cases¶

11 February. The number of prisoners who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic has now reached 2,695. Fifteen inmates have died.

Identified cases¶

21 January. Guatao prison, the largest women’s prison in the country, was in lockdown because of the increase in the number of COVID cases inside the prison system. This was the second prison in Cuba to implement this measure since the pandemic started.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

18 October. In Tennessee, CoreCivic—the contractor responsible for managing Trousdale TurnerCorrectional Facility and South Central Correctional Facility—faced criticism for mishandling inmate health. The institutions have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. The Prison Policy Initiative gave a harsh assessment of CoreCivic’s management of the health crisis. They did point out, however, that the state had not put any measures in place to reduce prison populations, concluding and that “even if we’re talking about private prisons, this is still a state failure.”

15 October. Prison guards in California were vaccinated at a lower rate than inmates. 77% of inmates were fully vaccinated, compared with 61% of prison guards. The guards were not required to be vaccinated for work, but would be frequently tested.

14 October. 1,500 prison guards in Massachusetts had not been vaccinated despite the mandated deadline. Governor Baker’s decision, issued on August 19, stated that unvaccinated personnel would have their contracts terminated on October 17. A union representing prison workers sued the Baker administration, arguing that its members had a “constitutional right to decline” the vaccine.

23 September. According to some observers, the situation of incarcerated people at Rikers prison is an “absolute humanitarian crisis” and a “symbol of brutality and inhumanity”. Several researchers concluded that mass incarceration, as practiced in the United States, “drives the spread of infectious diseases throughout America and is fundamentally incompatible with public health and biosecurity.”

16 September. Prison Policy Initiative stated that the nation’s response to the pandemic in prison has been “shameful”. The following criteria were assessed in the states’ responses: sentencing policies, reduction in mortality and infection rates, vaccination policy and implementation of health protocols. Iowa and 36 other states were given the lowest rating of F. Only New Jersey and California got a higher rating. Some states stood out for the release of many of its prisoners (New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois) or for mass vaccination in prisons (Dakota, Oregon, New Jersey). The composite score of these different criteria led to an overall rating. The organisation indicated, however: “Even New Jersey and California, which scored higher than the other 49 prison systems, did not do enough to mitigate COVID-19. In New Jersey, the infection rate (42 %) in prisons was 3.8 times higher than the state wide COVID-19 infection rate.”

6 June. In the state of Arizona, 71% of prisoners have been vaccinated, equaling 26 000 individuals.

1 June. In some states, the vaccination rate is higher inside the prisons than on the outside, especially in California and North Dakota. Prisoners are sometimes involved in promoting vaccination and motivating others to get vaccinated.

27 May. The Arizona prison system was planning to resume prisoners work programs and in-person visitation.

19 May. InHawaii, 20 out of 40 prison guard recruits, completing a training program, tested positive for COVID-19. The 36 recruits who refused to be vaccinated had to remain in quarantine, and the other four could resume their training.

18 May Less than 55% of prisoners were able to get vaccinated. The states with a vaccination rate of 20% or less are South Carolina, Utah andAlabama.

11 May. Prison staff members in California, have been reluctant to get vaccinated. Data collected in 30 of the 35 prisons run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) showed that less than half of them agreed to be vaccinated. This represents 37,000 individuals.

29 April. In Pennsylvania, 150 prisoners at Dauphin County prison received their first jab. The second one was scheduled for May.

27 April. A University of Los Angeles report revealed that the death rate in Florida prisons had gone up during the pandemic, and not just as a result of COVID-19. Despite the significant decline in the prison population, the number of deaths was on the rise. In Iowa, two nurses allegedly administered six times the intended dose of the Pfizer vaccine to 77 prisoners at Ford Madison prison. Both nurses were fired. A prisoner’s mother testified that ”[the prisoners felt] like lab rats.”

24 April. In Illinois, 69% of the 28,000 people incarcerated had already been vaccinated. Only 27% of correctional officers were reported to have accepted getting the jab. This figure may be underestimated as some would have received it in their hometown.

1 April. Thirty-six states were vaccinating prisoners and staff, and 11 were only vaccinating staff. Florida was one of four states with no plans to vaccinate prisoners or staff. The president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition said, ”we could be turning our prisons into cemeteries.” Florida recorded 213 prisoner deaths in 2020.

3 March. Over 200 people held at Danbury prison in Connecticut refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, citing concerns about the vaccine. Those prisoners who refuse vaccination without medical justification will no longer be eligible for house arrest. This arrangement can be granted to prisoners with fragile health, those at risk of serious complications in the event of infection, and those considered a “low security risk”.

1 March. The Kaiser Family Foundation revealed an uneven distribution of vaccines in prisons from one state to another, during the month of February. About 15 states (including California, Virginia and Massachusetts) administered vaccines to prisoners. Other states, including Colorado, prioritized the vaccination of prison staff over prisoners.

23 February. In the state of Connecticut, 10% of the prison population and 40% of staff were vaccinated over a three-week period.

22 February. In California, nearly 37,500 inmates and 25, 000 staff members were vaccinated. More than 13,000 inmates and 6,000 prison officers were also vaccinated in Virginia.

17 February. Delaware prisons installed air purifiers to prevent the spread of the virus in air conditioned quarters.

16 February. In North Carolina, more than six thousand first doses of the vaccine have been distributed to prisoners and prison staff since January 20. Health professionals and prison officers, who have been more severely affected by the pandemic, have already been vaccinated. From the total number of doses that were distributed, 200 were unusable or unused.

14 February. The families of several prisoners who died from COVID-19 in Halawa (Hawaii) denounced the sanitary conditions in prison that “sentenced them to death”. They pointed out the lack of investment by the prison administration to protect prisoners.

8 February. In Louisiana, 390 to 400 vulnerable inmates received their first vaccination. The prison administration encouraged all the prisoners to be vaccinated by depositing $5 in their personal accounts.

20 January. About ten prisoners who tested positive in Santiam Prison (Oregon) were not immediately quarantined after their screening results. They were sent back to shared dormitories with their uninfected co-detainees. Their placement in isolation was not scheduled until the next day. Prisoners denounced the indifference of the prison administration to their protests.

14 January. In California, vaccinations began in medical centres equipped to handle inmates (Chowchilla, the Health Care Facility in Stockton and the Medical Facility in Vacaville. The most affected prisons have not yet been addressed: San Quentin (2,600 cases, 28 deaths), Avenal State Prison (3,500 cases) and the California Institution for Men. This approach is being criticised.

2 January. In Colorado, vaccinating inmates is causing controversy. State leaders cannot agree whether to prioritise them for vaccination. According to Washington Post, this episode shows how a system to manage the pandemic can clash with other values, in a “nation that incarcerates more people than does any other”. According to Prison Policy Initiative, a dozen states do not believe that inmate status makes them a de facto priority and are basing vaccination on an individual’s health status. The states of New Jersey and Washington began vaccinating inmates. Others are considering it and are prioritising healthcare staff and healthcare facility residents above inmates. This is the case for the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.

1 January. Prisons with “uncontrollable” outbreaks of the virus are immediately closed and inmates are transferred. This is happening in local jails and the state prisons of Missouri, Pennsylvania and California. Officials believe that while many staff members are absent due to illness, the only way to guarantee public safety is to carry out emergency closures. Some observers are concerned about the overcrowding of inmates in the facilities to which they are transferred.

Judicial system¶

7 June. In the middle of last year, the prison population reached its lowest level in over 20 years. This trend was unsustainable, with prisons filling up again, due to the resumption of judicial activity and the lesser recourse to sentence adjustments.

25 February. The State of North Carolina will have to release 3,500 prisoners over the next six months. This decision was the result of a trial denouncing prison conditions that favor the spread of the pandemic, and was one of the country’s most significant rulings on this subject.

17 February. In the state of Massachusetts, a Suffolk Superior Court Judge denied the request to reduce the prison population. He ruled that “although conditions inside the facilities continue to deprive inmates of basic needs, the state hasn’t violated constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment”. In December, some lawyers asked for an immediate reduction in the prison population, claiming that inmates could not respect physical distancing.

8 February. Inmates who had been released early ”will be requested” to return to prison when the pandemic is over. This notice, published by the Office of Legal Counsel of the Justice Department, concerns inmates who had not yet reached a threshold of six months or of 10% of their sentence upon release. More than 20, 000 inmates were released early during the past eleven months.

Sentence adjustments¶

20 July. The Biden administration legal team decided that after the state of emergency ends, prisoners who have been serving their sentence at home to reduce the risk of spreading the virus would be required to return to prison. There are few options left to allow these people to complete their sentences at home: Congress could enact a law to expand the Justice Department’s authority to keep them at home, or President Biden could resort to clemency and commutations.

29 June. The parole board has deferred some parole and release decisions for more than a year. The reason: the impossibility for some prisoners to attend specific programmes, suspended due to the pandemic. In Michigan State, this has led to the postponed release of 232 persons. In Tennessee, some one-thousand people were granted parole but could not complete the requirements needed because of the pandemic. In Texas, 42 prisoners who were granted parole died before leaving prison.

5 May. The 24,000 federal prisoners allowed to serve the end of their sentence at home because of the accommodations granted during the epidemic may have been forced to return to prison. The Department of Justice, which authored the document, indicated that the Coronavirus Relief Act provisions were supposed to end after the pandemic. The head of the Bureau of Prisons defended himself from any criticism: ”If they have successfully been out there, we’re going to use good judgment and common sense and work within the law to make sure that we place them appropriately.”

5 February. A poll indicated that the early release of prisoners was not a dividing factor for the country. Two-thirds of the voters believed that less imprisonment should be encouraged. The supporters of the Republican Party, although less favourable to liberation measures, encouraged the release of certain types of prisoners.

Contact with the outside world¶

16 October. Louisiana allowed visitations to resume at some state-run prisons. Visits were suspended for three months because of the state’s surge in COVID-19 cases. This measure should be extended to other institutions as well as programs (including training and faith-based activities). The ministry said plans were being developed to resume visits between prisoners and lawyers, which were then done over video calls.

3 July. The State of New Mexico was planning to authorise visits again, after suspending them for a year. Visitors and prisoners must have a negative test, be masked and vaccinated, and have a barrier between them. Video visits will also be possible and free of charge.

27 May. In Arizona, visits to prisons have resumed for fully vaccinated prisoners. Visitors do not have to be vaccinated but must undergo temperature checks and answer a medical questionnaire.

5 March. Conditions for visits varied by state. The Marshall Project summarised the situation, which is regularly updated.

Appeals and recommendations¶

18 February. The NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) filed a complaint against the state of Missouri, where no prisoners had been vaccinated to date. The organization, which advocates for equal rights for African Americans, claimed that this is a violation of prisoners’ civil rights. Nearly a third of this population could be eligible for vaccination on the basis of age or underlying health conditions.

14 January. An advocate for prison reform in the United States and Great Britain said that “whatever your politics are, it’s just science here. If you don’t vaccinate inside prisons, you’re never going to stop outbreaks outside of prison.”

6 January. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) criticised the Bureau of Prisons for its indifference to the coronavirus outbreak at Waseca prison (Minnesota). The ACLU accused the Bureau of ignoring the warnings by consistently sending more people to prison. Inmates had been transferred from Oklahoma prison, despite the particularly high infection rate in this prison. Officials denied these accusations. They indicated that measures were taken “responsibly and appropriately”. The ACLU cited examples to the contrary, especially protocols that were not respected.

Identified cases¶

18 October. In Tennessee, COVID-19 infection rates were higher in private prisons (30%) than at the average state-run facility (8%).

11 October. 187 inmates in Kenai prison (Alaska) tested positive for COVID-19. A 68-year-old inmate was transferred to Soldotna hospital, where he died as a result of the disease.

27 September Several states had stopped issuing statistics on the cases detected in prison. Some researchers reported that out of 53 prison systems observed, nine no longer reported their statistics. They said: “as cases have been increasing, we’re getting less transparency than we had before. And so some states, we don’t even know if they’re still testing”.

21 September. In Texas, one prison recorded 172 COVID-19 cases, all due to the Delta variant. Three-quarters of the infected prisoners were fully vaccinated, while three out of four people who were hospitalised were not.

17 September. Iowa reported the twenty-second death of an incarcerated person from COVID-19 complications. The state has recorded 4,900 cases among prisoners and 750 among the staff since the pandemic started.

28 May. In New Mexico, 110 prisoners and 16 staff members at Torrance County prison tested positive.

23 April. In California, Donovan prison went under lockdown once more after multiple cases were detected.

21 April. In Vermont, the Northern State prison no longer had any COVID-19 cases.

2 March. Newport prison, the largest facility in the state of Vermont, counted 137 positive COVID-19 cases, mostly among prisoners. This is the biggest wave of infections experienced by the prison since the beginning of the pandemic.

27 February. The State of Michigan recorded 292 prisoners infected with the English variant of the virus, across three prisons: Bellamy Creek (276); Macomb (14) and Duane Waters (2). Bellamy Creek prison also recorded sixteen infected staff members.

14 February. At Halawa prison (Hawaii), five prisoners died of COVID-19 over the past month.

12 February. Saint Albans prison (Vermont) recorded 13 infected prisoners and three staff members in the last few days.

28 January. In Mississippi, authorities celebrated a particularly low infection rate of 9%. However, this could have been due to fewer tests being carried out, less than 20% of the prison population having been tested. East Mississippi Correctional prison, for example, only tested 83 out of 1,200 people. The authorities, who had previously not commented on the number of deaths, have now advised that more than 20 prisoners have died of COVID-19.

23 February. A male inmate at Newton prison, in Iowa, died from Covid-19. This was the 19th death in that facility since the onset of the pandemic.

20 January. In Oregon, 50 people being held in Santiam prison tested positive.

16 January. In Oregon, a 32 year-old inmate died from COVID-19 at Marion prison. At least five inmates have died in the state since the beginning of the year.

6 January. In New York state, one inmate died from COVID-19. He had been in a state-run prison in Oneida county, which had 35 other reported cases. Among the 52 state-run prisons, 43 reported having cases: Woodbourne (69) ; Governor (61) ; Mohawk/Walsh RMU (59) ; Coxsackie (59), to name a few.

In Washington state, 218 inmates at Larch prison tested positive.

Health conditions and access to healthcare¶

16 September. The first vaccination dose was administered to 56% of the prisoners and 61% of staff members at Northward and Fairbanks facilities. Some 33% of prisoners and 57% of staff are now fully vaccinated.

13 August. The juvenile section of Northward Prison was used for quarantining prisoners who contracted the coronavirus during the year 2020. A minor was transferred to the disciplinary unit (High Risk Unit) for over four months.

Contact with the outside world¶

16 September. Officials announced the lockdown of Northward and Fairbanks after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Virtual visits were put in place to compensate for the suspension of personal visits.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

31 August. Prisoners were reluctant to get vaccinated. Officials said about 70% of the prisoners have refused to get the vaccine.

7 May. Prison authorities estimated that 10% of the prison population has been vaccinated.

29 April. Vaccination began with the 20% of prisoners who volunteered to get the jab.

Contact with the outside world¶

21 June. The Ministry of National Security reported that incarcerated people are at greater risk of developing psychosocial issues as a result of COVID-19. This is partly due to a lack of family visits. Mentoring and rehabilitation programmes have been severely affected by the pandemic.

Identified cases¶

24 October. The number of COVID-19 cases in Spanish Town prison increased . A total of 74 prisoners were positive.

18 March. One prisoner died from COVID-19 in the St Catherine facility, following the deaths of three officers and two prisoners.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

4 May. Authorities vaccinated 2,468 prisoners nationwide.

6 April. Mexican prisons reported that 1,214 inmates have been vaccinated.

18 March. Five prisoners over age 60 were vaccinated in Cozumel prison.

Sentence adjustments¶

6 April A release of 3,972 people deprived of liberty was reported.

Calls and recommendations¶

22 July. The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) indicated that the prison’s overpopulation conditions have deteriorated during the pandemic, with more than 14,000 new incarcerations. The number of cases rose to 3,456 on 11 July. The crisis has also encouraged violence from the agents. Cases of ill treatment and torture have been reported and allegedly excused, with the restrictions linked to COVID-19 as a pretext.

Contact with the outside world¶

4 May. The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) sent recommendations to the Secretariat for Security and Citizen Protection (SSCP). It said contact between federal prisoners and the outside has deteriorated during the pandemic and access to visits and telephone calls varies between prisons.

Identified cases¶

29 July. A report revealed that, since the pandemic started, 4,451 persons have been infected with COVID-19, and 357 have died. Mexico City recorded 1,619 positive prisoners and 99 officers, and 59 deaths. Puebla state recorded 423 infections and 55 deaths, Jalisco 303 infections, Chihuahua 281, Campeche145 and Guanajuato has had 143 since the start of the pandemic. The states of Baja California, México, Veracruz and Morelos have had 38, 33, 30 and 21 deaths respectively from COVID-19 in their prisons.

1 June. The 2020 National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) report indicated that 2,988 prisoners contracted COVID-19 and 176 of them died. According to the CNDH, there were another 200 potential infections and 68 deaths, but these numbers were not confirmed.

4 May. The number of positive cases in all prisons combined totalled 4,417 (3,903 prisoners and 514 correctional officers). There were 358 deaths reported in the country’s prisons.

6 April The Asilegal NGO counted a total of 4,388 cases in prison. Among these were 3,874 prisoners and 514 officers. Asilegal reported 352 deaths, 282 of whom were prisoners.

27 January. Three new positive cases were reported in Tlaxcala prisons, according to the National Human Rights Commission (“Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH”).

Contact with the outside world¶

12 April. The Minister of Justice announced the closure of Tacumbú prison, the country’s largest, after discovering two positive cases.

Identified cases¶

12 January. The Ministry of Justice announced the lockdown of three correctional facilities (Villatica, Serafina Dávalos and Casa del Bun Pastor) due to the identification of clusters.

11 January. Authorities reported a total of 841 infected prisoners since the beginning of the pandemic.

Contact with the outside world¶

13 October. The ICRC in Lima released an informative video on maintaining relationships with women prisoners. Inmates did not receive any visits since the pandemic began. The women’s prison in Chorrillos allowed inmates to make video calls to keep in touch with their loved ones. They could also receive medical follow-ups using this method. The ICRC helped inmates maintain relationships by supplying the prison with technological equipment.

Health conditions and access to care¶

21 August. The Attorney General Office (PGR) hired an epidemiologist to improve healthcare access at Pedro Santana prison in El Seibo. Prison authorities declared that a vaccination campaign was ongoing and that prisoners were awaiting their third dose. The CNDH stated that the facility overcrowding was “aberrant” and “shameful” ─with 942 prisoners in 248 places. The organisation called for the construction of a new prison.

14 June. The number of prisoners to receive both doses of the vaccine increased to 877, with 8,000 having received the first dose. Families of incarcerated people were encouraged to get vaccinated. Proof of vaccination is required to access the prison.

Contact with the outside world¶

3 June. Visits have been suspended in all prisons. This decision was made after the confirmation of 55 positive cases. Visits had been suspended for over a year and resumed in mid-May.

Identified cases¶

14 June. Twenty-three prisoners at Najayo prison tested positive for COVID-19, while 54 were placed in isolation. Najayo women’s prison reported four cases. 3 June. In Santo Domingo, 55 prisoners tested positive, and almost twice that number were placed in isolation after displaying symptoms. The total number of prisoners infected with the virus has reached 1,500 since the beginning of the pandemic. Twenty-three have died.

Health conditions and access to care¶

2 July. Half of the prisoners at Basseterre Prison received at least the first dose of the Oxford vaccine -AstraZeneca. Of 179 prisoners, 64 received all doses, and 25 received one.

16 June. Staff and incarcerated people at Basseterre prison were encouraged to get vaccinated. About half of the staff members and prisoners have received the first dose of the vaccine. 33% of the staff and 36% of prisoners are fully vaccinated.

Contact with the outside world¶

18 June. Minister Byron-Nisbett reported that Basseterre prison has been closed to visitors since March 2020.

Identified cases¶

2 July. Basseterre Prison recorded 55 positive cases among prisoners; forty of whom have shown signs of recovery. Six staff members also tested positive.

18 June. Thirty-seven prisoners tested positive at the HMP prison in Basseterre in June. They were isolated from other prisoners and their cells were disinfected.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

2 March. The Bordelais prison director believes that 105 positive cases are a result of the unrest from the month prior. Prisoners had staged a two-day protest against the delay in court hearings and “inadequate measures” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Contact with the outside world¶

26 March. Visits were to resume in Her Majesty’s Prison and Belle Isle prison on 1 April. Prisoners are permitted two ten-minute visits a month, while following health guidelines.

Identified cases¶

26 March. Eleven prisoners, eight men and three women, tested positive for COVID-19.

Health conditions and access to care¶

2 September. Prison Services received 200 doses of the vaccine to inoculate prisoners and prison staff.

15 August. Seven hundred prisoners were vaccinated. The prison staff members, however, have a low vaccination rate. The Minister of National Security rebuked this situation and called the unwillingness to be vaccinated “preposterous”. He visited prisons to encourage reluctant prisoners and staff members. After one of his visits, 40% of the female prison population agreed to get the vaccine.

11 June. Plans have been underway to vaccinate the island’s 3,800 prisoners, as well as the prison officers. A total of 481 prison staff members have been vaccinated so far.

Links with the outside world¶

21 July. Since the pandemic has caused food shortage, the prison system has been cultivating 26 acres of farmland to make prisons self-sufficient with food.

Identified cases¶

9 August. Thirty-four prisoners tested positive at Carrera Island prison. The prison administration was concerned about the number of prisoners reluctant to be vaccinated. The Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Health made 3,700 vaccines available to prisons. The prisoners who tested positive were isolated, and the prison administration was planning to transfer them to facilities on land to be nearest to hospitals.

11 June. Seven prisoners and 71 officers were COVID-19 positive.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

19 April. Domingo Arena prison authorities started a vaccination campaign for prisoners over age 70, that is 21 persons.

17 March. Santiago Vazquez prison authorities hoped to administer the first dose of the CoronaVac vaccine to more than 3,800 detained volunteers. More than 95% of female prisoners at Santiago Vazquez prison volunteered.

Identified cases¶

17 March. Santiago Vazquez prison reported 140 positive cases and proceeded to quarantine 240 prisoners.

Sanitary conditions and access to healthcare¶

31 October. A prison in Caracas organised a vaccination day for prisoners. A total of 245 people received their first dose of the Sputnik vaccine.

17 October. The correctional facility in Cabimas began vaccinating its 213 inmates.

15 October. The correctional facility in Pampatar started testing its 60 inmates.

7 October Miranda state officials went ahead and vaccinated 11 female prisoners.

19 September. Prison officials in the state of Apure planned to vaccinate 80 prisoners.

16 September. Prisoners at Táchira prison received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

3 July. About 500 female prisoners were vaccinated in early July. The Pan-American Health Organisation (PHO) reported that Venezuela is vaccinating with Sputnik-V vaccines (Russian), Sinopham (Chinese) and Abdala (Cuban).

3 July. The Una Ventana a la Libertad NGO denounced “the lack of a potable water supply, logistic and infrastructure limitations, and a high level of overcrowding, which prevents the proper application of basic prevention measures,” such as hand washing and physical distancing. The NGO said that there is no preventative quarantining and that families are the ones who supply sanitizers and masks to prisoners.

28 April. Eleven prisoners were tested in the state of Sucre. Some of them had flu-like symptoms.

15 April. Conas prison authorities conducted testing on nine new prisoners and 12 officers. The tests results came back as negative.

26 March. Incarcerated people at Carabella prison were treated for COVID-19 with Carvativir, a plant-based medication, and “multi-vitamins“. The National Medicine Authority warned that “Carvativir is not an approved medication for treating COVID-19“.

13 April. Authorities in Yaracuy State distributed more than one thousand masks in La Cuarta prison. One whole day was spent deep-cleaning.

Judicial system¶

19 March. The Portuguesa State courts closed temporarily after several staff members came down with COVID-19.

Contact with the outside world¶

19 March. In the State of Miranda, prisoners’ relatives called on Venezuelan federal authorities to assess the psychological impact of isolation in quarantine. The suspension of visits for six months is of concern for prisoners’ mental health.

Appeals and recommendations¶

6 October Families of prisoners in the State of Portuguesa called on public health and prison authorities to vaccinate prisoners, so that they could resume their visits.

30 May. Juan Guaidó and other opposition members called on President Maduro to release political prisoners. They allege that the coronavirus pandemic justifies these releases. According to the Foro Penal NGO, there are 301 political prisoners.

30 April. Loved ones of prisoners at the Caracas prison denounced the authorities’ inaction regarding two troubling cases. Prisoners were not being tested, and access to medication was denied. Only the correctional officers’ quarters were being disinfected. Prisoners were allowed to change clothing and underwear just once a week.

24 April Relatives of people incarcerated at Yaracuy prison called on the authorities to disinfect the quarantine areas and to organize testing days. They worry that overcrowding in these areas will lead to a pandemic outbreak.

Acts of protest¶

3 July. The Una Ventana a la Libertad NGO said a hunger strike was held in the prisons in January 2021. Prisoners protested the lockdown as it was preventing their families from bringing their usual supply of food. Many said they suffered from hunger.

Identified cases¶

May. The organisation Una Ventana a la Libertad deplored the lack of transparency of the official figures. They declared: “We cannot obtain clear information on the number of coronavirus cases recorded within the prisons, because of the lack of transparency and official information on the topic; meanwhile, prison conditions present considerable risks.”