Article Figures & Data
Tables
El Salvador Panama Costa Rica Uruguay Brazil The Dominican Republic Peru Mexico Argentina Population3,33 6,134,000 3,571,185 4,726,575 3,368,595 199,800,000 10,056,181 29,399,817 120,286,655 42,192,500 Legal system33 Common/civil Civil Civil Civil Civil Civil/common Civil Common/civil Civil Total prisoner population7 26,796 14,170 14,963 9,829 548,003 24,986 67,597 246,334 62,263 Incarceration rate per 100,0007 424 383 314 289 274 247 220 212 149 - Table 2
Incarceration Rate and Estimated Number of Psychiatrists and Forensic Beds per 100,000 People in Latin American and Other countries
Region or country Incarceration rate per 100,000 people Forensic beds per 100,000 people Psychiatrists per 100,000 people Central America and Mexico 281 (7) 0.5 (8) 1.5 (8) South American countries 202 (7) 1.6 (8) 2.9 (8) The United States 707 (7) 14.1 (34) 14.1 (35) Canada 118 (7) 6.1 (36) 15.8 (35) Spain 144 (7) 1.5 (37) 10.5 (35) England 149 (7) 1.8 (37) 19.5 (35) Germany 78 (7) 7.8 (37) 20.9 (35) The Netherlands 75 (7) 11.4 (37) 20.5 (35) Sweden 60 (7) 14.3 (37) 22 (35) The numbers in parentheses in the data columns are reference citations.
- Table 3
Mental Health and Forensic Mental Health Services Available in the Latin American Countries and Their Expenditures on Mental Health
Services and Budget8 El Salvador Panama Costa Rica Uruguay Brazil The Dominican Republic Peru Mexico Argentina Percentage of health budget devoted to mental health 1% 2.9% 2.9% 7% 2.35% 0.4% 3% 2% 2% Number of psychiatric hospitals 2 1 2 2 228 1 3 46 29 Number of forensic hospitals 0 0 1 0* 31† 0 0 2‡ 2§ Number of forensic beds 40 0 0 191 3,677 0 42 1,096 150 Forensic service within prison No No No No No No No Yes No Police officers who received mental health education in the last 5 years (%) 1–20 51–80 21–50 1–20 0 0 1–20 1–20 1–20 Judges and lawyers who received mental health education in the last 5 years (%) 1–20 1–20 21–50 1–20 1–20 1–20 1–20 1–20 1–50 - Table 4
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.
