Venezuela’s La Crisálida prison reports 26 inmate deaths under state custody

The Venezuelan Observatorio de Prisiones (OVP) recorded 26 inmate deaths between April and June 2024, the first occurring at the women’s prison La Crisálida in Los Teques, Miranda. Fabiana Desirée Páez Fernández died from respiratory failure and other health issues after reportedly receiving no appropriate medical care, marking the first death recorded at the facility since it opened in 2018.

OVP also highlighted chronic problems at La Crisálida, including severe overcrowding—with about 320 women confined—and limited access to basic necessities such as a single water container for personal hygiene and laundry. The organization estimates that in 2025, 181 prisoners died while in state custody, with 95% lacking needed medical attention.

These deaths follow a broader climate of unrest after the July 2024 presidential election, which saw mass protests, dozens of fatalities, and thousands of detentions. Human‑rights groups are demanding urgent medical services and reforms to prevent further loss of life under custody.