Venezuela prison system records 51 inmate deaths from medical neglect

The Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones (OVP) reported that 51 common prisoners died between April and July 2026 in Venezuela, attributing the deaths to a lack of timely medical care.

Most of the fatalities occurred at the El Marite prison in Zulia state, a facility built for 700 inmates but holding over 1,000, exceeding capacity by more than 40%. OVP said many inmates died from preventable illnesses such as tuberculosis, severe dehydration, acute diarrhoea and other conditions that could have been treated with proper medical attention.

OVP called on the prosecutor’s office and the public defender to launch a transparent, exhaustive investigation into the Ministry for Prison Services, which it says has systematically violated prisoners' rights and failed to ensure health access. The organization also noted that Venezuela’s official prison system holds about 32,200 detainees, with an additional 35,000 in police cells, and that 382 political detainees—including 40 foreign nationals—are currently incarcerated.