Ombudsman condemns crisis in prison system

(PanamaNewsRoom) The vast majority of people sitting in Panama’s jails have not been convicted of a crime. They are awaiting trial. Some wait for years.

If finally found “not guilty”  they receive no recompense.

Panaman Ombudsman, Ricardo Vargas, in a strongly worded report condemns the widespread use of preventive detention, in inmates in unconstitutional conditions and creating a backlog in the courts, which perpetuates the vicious circle.

In his report: “A look at Panama's Penitentiary System: Analysis and Proposals,” Vargas said that many of the country’s jails are plagued with high levels of overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, poor drinking water, lack of civil guards and police and a high level of corruption.
On February 7  this year, the prison population in Panama was 11,654. Of those only 36 percent have been sentenced for an alleged crime or misconduct. The rest are waiting for their cases to be heard. 
Vargas called for the government to develop policies to help resolve the serious crisis facing the current penitentiary system.

**********

Original Source: PanamaNewsRoom

Date Retrieved: February 20, 2011