Mexican states flag rising prison costs and overcrowding

The government of the Mexican state of Chihuahua is spending about 201.6 million pesos each year to house 1,674 federal inmates in its state prisons, a cost of roughly 330 pesos per inmate per day and 16.8 million pesos per month. The state bears the full expense without federal assistance, and its total prison budget reaches 1.222 trillion pesos annually. Federal inmate numbers rose by 271 (19.3%) compared with the previous year, bringing the overall prison population to 10,149, of which 16.4% are federal detainees.

In Aguascalientes, the state penitentiary (Cereso) is reported to be overpopulated by about 200 prisoners. Legislator Lucía de León Urzúa says conditions such as food, sanitation and workshop access remain adequate and denies the presence of inmate self‑governance or illegal fees. Expanding the facility would require a substantial budget increase that is not currently allocated, though the next state fiscal plan may address it. The same legislator also announced reforms to the penal code and education law aimed at protecting teachers.

Both reports highlight growing pressures on Mexico’s state prison systems, rising inmate numbers and the financial and infrastructural challenges they pose.