Chihuahua prison system hailed as national model after major reforms

The state of Chihuahua was recognized as a national reference for its penitentiary system during the recent plenary assembly of the National Conference of Penitentiary Systems in Zacatecas. State Secretary of Public Security Gilberto Loya highlighted that the system shifted from a crisis point to a model of governance and social reintegration. Overcrowding fell from 42 % to 11 % after 1,582 strategic inmate transfers, and 16,126 routine inspections plus 38 extraordinary ones in 2025 seized 16,375 prohibited items.

The reform program also added 1,690 new inmate spaces across several facilities, rehabilitated the “Pentágono” area and perimeter fences with an investment of MXN 2.9 million, doubling operational capacity from 110 to 222 places. Technological tools such as the Centinela platform were introduced to improve internal security, staff conditions, and safer environments for detainees, supporting the state's goal of broader social reintegration.