Estimated Occupancy and Conditions of Prisons in the Latin American and Developed Countries
| Region or country | Occupancy rate, based on official capacity (%)6,7 | Prison Conditions7,32 |
|---|---|---|
| El Salvador | 320.3 | Overcrowding is a serious threat to prisoners' health and lives. In many facilities, provisions for sanitation, potable water, ventilation, temperature, medical care, and lighting are inadequate. |
| Panama | 172.5 | Prison conditions remain harsh and, in some cases, life threatening. Problems include overcrowding and inadequate health care. |
| Costa Rica | 117.0 | Prison conditions are harsh. Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, difficulties obtaining medical care, and violence among prisoners remain serious problems in some prison facilities. |
| Uruguay | 119.9 | Prison and detention center conditions continue to be harsh and life threatening in some facilities. Increased crime and high recidivism (60%) rates contribute, as well as excessive use of force and solitary confinement as disciplinary measures and inadequate medical attention. |
| Brazil | 171.9 | Conditions in many prisons are poor and sometimes life threatening, though many states have made efforts to improve conditions. Abuse by prison guards continues to occur at many facilities. |
| The Dominican Republic | 174.0 | Prison conditions range from fair to extremely harsh. Threats to life and health include communicable diseases, poor sanitation, poor access to health services, a lack of well-trained prison guards, and prisoner-on-prisoner brutality. |
| Peru | 218.9 | Prison conditions remain harsh for most of the country's inmates. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition and health care, and corruption among guards are serious problems. Basic medical care is available at most prisons, but there is a shortage of doctors. |
| Mexico | 126.3 | Treatment and physical conditions in prisons and detention centers are often harsh and life threatening, most notably in state-level prisons. Overcrowding, prisoner abuse, and alcohol and drug addiction are prevalent in most facilities. |
| Argentina | 101.6 | Inmates in many facilities suffer from extreme overcrowding, poor nutrition, inadequate medical and psychological treatment, inadequate sanitation, limited visits from family, and frequent degrading treatment, according to various reports by human rights organizations and research centers. |
| The United States | 99.0 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| Canada6,7 | 96.4 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| Spain6,7 | 88.0 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| England6,7 | 111.6 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| Germany6,7 | 81.8 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| The Netherlands6,7 | 77.0 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |
| Sweden6,7 | 86.3 | Prison and detention center conditions mostly meet international standards. |