Colombian Prisons as a core Institution of Authoritarian

Liberalism

 
 
 Manuel Iturralde
Associate Professor
Law Department
Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá-Colombia)
 T

Chart 1. Prison capacity and inmate population 1994-2013 (March)

140000

120000

100000

80000

60000 Prison capacity

Inmate population
40000

20000

0
94 96 98 00 )
9 9 9 0 002 004 0 06 0 08 010 rch
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 a
(M
13
20

Source: National Bureau of Colombian Prisons (INPEC) (2009, 2010, 2013).

 Chart 2. Crimes reported by the Colombian National Police
Force
600000 (1994-2011)
500000

400000

300000
Total number of crimes

200000

100000

0
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2011

Source: Colombian National Police Force (2012).

art 3. Imprisonment rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) in various countries
(2001-2013)
800

700

600

500

400
2001
300 2007
2009
200 2011-2013

100

0
a n d k n y d y d e y a a a l a s n a u o a e l a r a s
n di apa lan ar ede rwa lan an lan anc tali livi hin rali uga tin ale pai uel Per xic bi hil razi fric ado ssi tate
m
I J in n w o er rm ol Fr I o C st rt en W S ez e o m C B A l v u
R d S
F De S N itz Ge H B o
Au P Arg and en M ol h a
C ut El S ni
te
Sw V
 

o
 

d S U
an
n gl
E
Source: International Centre for Prison Studies (2009, 2013).
Chart 4. Imprisonment rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) in Latin America
(1992-2013)
450

400

350

300

1992/1993
250
1995/1996
1998/1999
200
2001/2002
2004/2005
150
2007/2008
2011/2013
100

50

0
or ia a a la ru a le l a
a y
iv u in e i co bi i zi a y
m
ua
d
a gu ol r ag e nt zu Pe ex m Ch Br
a gu na
Ec r B a rg
e M lo ru Pa
Pa N
ic A en C o U
V

Source: International Centre for Prison Studies (2009, 2103).

Chart 5. Percentage of overcrowding in Colombian prisons
(1994-2013)
60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

Overcrowding (annual average)

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
)
94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 ch
19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 ar
(M
13
20

Source: INPEC (2009, 2013).

 Chart 6. Inmate occupations
(2002-2012)
50.00%

45.00%

40.00%

35.00%

30.00%

25.00% Work
Study
20.00% Not Occupied

15.00%

10.00%

5.00%

0.00%
Dec- Dec- Dec- Dec- Dec- Dec- sep-08 Dec- Dec-
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010 2012

Source: INPEC (2009, 2013).

 Chart 7. Length of inmates’ prisons sentences
(number of prisoners) (1999-2013-April)
40000

35000

30000

25000

20000 1999
2010
15000 2013 (April)

10000

5000

0
0 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 More than 25
years years years years

Source: INPEC (2000, 2011, 2013).

Chart 8. Length of inmates’ prisons sentences (percentages)
(1999-2013-April)
50.00%

45.00%

40.00%

35.00%

30.00%

25.00% 1999
2010
20.00% 2013 (April)

15.00%

10.00%

5.00%

0.00%
0 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 15 years 16 to 20 years 21 to 25 years More than 25
years

Source: INPEC (2000, 2011, 2013).

 Chart 9. Inmate education levels
(1989-2013)
60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

1989
30.00% 1999
2008
2013
20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
No formal education Primary school Secondary school University/vocational
studies

Source: INPEC (2013).

Chart 10. Total number of crimes reported per 100,000 inhabitants Chart 11. Prison population per
100,000 inhabitants
(1994-2011) (1994-2011)
1,200.00 250.00

1,000.00
200.00
800.00
150.00
600.00 Total number of
Prison population
crimes registered
100.00 (x100,000 inhabi-
(x100,000 inhabi-
400.00 tants)
tants)
50.00
200.00

0.00 0.00

94 996 998 0 00 0 02 0 04 006 008 0 10 94 97 00 03 06 09

9
1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 19 19 20 20 20 20

Source: National Police Force (2011). Source: INPEC (2011).

Chart 12. Percentage break-down of crimes committed by
Colombian prisoners
1977 (1977-2013) 1989
0.25%
6.91% 3.25% 2.50%
Homicide and assault

30.00% Against property

15.50%
Homicide and assault 30.75%
Against property
Drug-trafficking
Drug-trafficking

Against State security

45.93%

Sex crimes

33.75%
Against the constitutional
order
rt 12. Percentage break-down of crimes committed by Colombian prisoners
(1977-2013)
3.
0
1999 3.
0 2008
3 3
% %
5.59% 5.59%

Homicide and assault Homicide and assault

9.54% 26.66% Against property 9.54% 26.66% Against property
Drug-trafficking Drug-trafficking
Against State security Against State security
Sex crimes Sex crimes
8.45% 8.45%
Against the constitu- Against the constitu-
tional order tional order
Against individual Against individual
7.18% liberty 7.18% liberty

24.82% 24.82%
Chart 12. Percentage break-down of crimes committed by
Colombian prisoners
(1977-2013)
2013
(April)
1.
23
% 7.98%

17.34% Homicide and assault

7.65% Against property
Drug-trafficking
Against State security
3.51% Sex crimes
Against the constitutional
order
Against individual liberty
14.50% 22.16%

Source: Colombian Ministry of Justice (1989), INPEC (2008, 2013).

Chart 13. Number of inmates awaiting trial and inmates sentenced
in Colombian prisons (1991-2013)
90,000

80,000

70,000

60,000

50,000

40,000
Accused
Sentenced
30,000

20,000

10,000

-
)
9 9 1 9 9 2 9 9 3 9 9 4 9 9 5 9 9 6 9 9 7 9 9 8 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 7 0 0 8 0 0 9 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 rc h
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 a
(M
1 3
20

Source: INPEC (2013).

Chart 14. Average number of inmates awaiting trial and inmates
sentenced
70.00% (1991-2013)
60.00%

50.00%

40.00%

30.00%

20.00%

10.00%

0.00%
Accused Sentenced

Source: INPEC (2013).