35% of Colombia prisoners not convicted of crime

[Judi Lynn]

35% of Colombia prisoners not convicted of crime
Oct 2, 2014 posted by Joel Gillin

More than one-third of Colombian prisoners – 35% – have not been convicted of a crime, according to local media.

Colombia’s prison authority INPEC says that of the some 117,000 people deprived of their freedom, only 75,612 have been convicted of a crime, while 41,425 prisoners are still waiting for their judicial processes to end.

This news comes as reports depict Colombia’s 138 prisons as severely overcrowded, with INPEC claiming that the rate of overcrowding is around 53% nationally.

Guards who work in the prison system have repeatedly gone on strike to protest their work conditions, the overcrowding, and recent lay-offs.

Systemic problems with prisons and corruption has led to calls from Congress to dismantle INPEC and replace with an entirely new institution.

http://colombiareports.co/35-of-colombia-prisoners-not-convicted-of-crime/

[Louisiana1976]

1. That is an alarming statistic. Justice must move extremely slowly there.