# Mexican prison overcrowding and security reforms > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mexican-prison-overcrowding-and-security-reforms > Updated: 2026-10-19T03:00:16.000Z. Sources: 41. Developments: 4. The Mexican penitentiary system continues to face severe pressure regarding overcrowding and security. In September 2026, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) ordered authorities in the State of Mexico to address congestion at the Nezahualcóyotl-Bordo Xochiaca Penitentiary Center, ruling that overcrowding exceeding 200% capacity potentially amounted to “cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.” By October 2026, the federal government announced a large-scale infrastructure response to mitigate rising inmate populations, including plans for six new high-security prisons in Sinaloa, Sonora, Veracruz, Chiapas, the State of Mexico, and Nayarit. Expected to be completed by 2028, these facilities will feature advanced surveillance and signal-blocking devices to prevent violent clashes. Regional crises are intensifying. In the State of Mexico, the system reports a 158% overpopulation rate, with over 39,000 inmates occupying spaces designed for approximately 16,310. Governor Delfina Gómez Álvarez has proposed a 400 million peso investment for facility expansion and new construction. Sonora has emerged as the second most overcrowded state in the country. Its 13 prisons hold 16,722 people despite a capacity for only 7,988. This saturation is driven largely by legal delays, with approximately 60% of Sonora’s inmates awaiting sentencing. While the total inmate population in Sonora increased between 2024 and 2026, the number of sentenced individuals decreased, highlighting systemic issues with judicial processing. Officials suggest that addressing the “fabrication of crimes” and implementing electronic monitoring are necessary to alleviate these pressures. ## Claims - The federal government will build six new state penitentiary centers in Mexico. (corroborated by 13 sources) - President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that prison overpopulation must be addressed to protect human rights and security. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The recent riot at the Mazatlán prison was caused by a conflict between members of the Los Chapitos criminal group. (corroborated by 5 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-19: Mexico faces severe prison overcrowding in Estado de México and Sonora Mexico faces a critical prison overcrowding crisis, with Estado de México and Sonora reporting massive overpopulation and high numbers of inmates awaiting sentencing. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-faces-severe-prison-overcrowding-in-estado-de-mxico-and-sonora ### 2026-10-15: Mexico State considers new prisons to address 158% overcrowding Mexico State is planning new prisons and expansions to address a 158% overcrowding rate affecting over 39,000 inmates. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-state-considers-new-prisons-to-address-158-overcrowding ### 2026-10-13: Mexico to build six new penitentiary centers to combat overcrowding Mexico will build six new penitentiary centers in Chiapas, Estado de México, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Veracruz to house 18,480 inmates and combat prison overcrowding. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-to-build-six-new-high-security-prisons ### 2026-09-23: Mexico Supreme Court orders plan to fix Neza-Bordo prison overcrowding Mexico's Supreme Court ordered the State of Mexico to implement a plan to resolve extreme overcrowding at the Neza-Bordo prison, ruling that such conditions violate human rights. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-supreme-court-orders-resolution-of-neza-prison-overcrowding --- Cite as: Mexican prison overcrowding and security reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mexican-prison-overcrowding-and-security-reforms