Torture cases in federal jails rise during Bullrich administration, report finds

At least 646 inmates were victims of torture and mistreatments in federal prisons in 2024 during Security Minister Patricia Bullrichs tenure, according to a report by several specialized institutions.  In total, they suffered 1,465 events of torture and mistreatment of different nature. The annual report was conducted by the National Penitentiary General Prosecutors Office, the Committee Against Torture from the Comisin Provincial por la Memoria human rights institution, and the University of Buenos Aires Study Group on the Criminal System and Human Rights. These numbers represent a steep increase compared to 2023, when 426 victims suffered 1,112 events of torture and mistreatment within the National Penitentiary System. The system has been under the scope of the security ministry since President Javier Milei came into office in December 2023. In previous administrations, it had been under the purview of the justice ministry. Bullrich is set to be replaced by Alejandra Monteoliva, current deputy minister, as she will take a seat in the Senate after being elected in October. Most of the registered victims included in the report were held at the Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires City, but there were also inmates from federal penitentiaries in several other provinces, including units for men and women and of different types of security levels. This confirms the extension of the torture and mistreatment in the entire federal penitentiary system, the report said. The total number of victims In total, in 2024 there were 1,198 victims who described suffering 4,745 torture and mistreatment events, according to interviews conducted by the organizations in charge of the report. This includes inmates inside the national penitentiary system as well provincial prisons in the case of the report, from Buenos Aires province and police stations. The number of victims, however, could be higher, given the report only includes those cases in which the organizations were able to verify claims via interviews with the victims or personal experience during jail visits. The types of torture registered include violent personal inspections, threats, food withdrawal, and obstacles to family visits, among others. In 2024, the most common type of torture registered was poor material conditions of detention in 907 cases, followed by lack or poor healthcare (836), physical aggression (643) and isolation (634).  In addition, 271 people suffered police violence and torture during arrests and other instances of contact with the forces.