10
the blocks are intended to hold isolated inmates for reasons of security and based on the
nature of the crime committed For its part, the San Felipe Penitentiary Complex II has
eight modules, each module with capacity for 60 inmates divided into two floors, each one
with 40 cells. Both cells have a common patio that is partially open featuring natural and
artificial light. As regarding young adults, in order to facilitate communal living, a
maximum of 30 inmates is permitted per unit. The hours of free movement and lockdown
within the complex varies between 0700 hrs. and 2200 hrs., taking into account “that
[L]aw [No.] 24.660 requires that inmates in the advanced stage of the progressive
sentence regimen have access to open detention spaces to educate the inmates on selfdiscipline, for which reason the San Felipe complex is intended specifically for that purpose.
This means that the adults housed in that unit have flexible rules and few hours of cell
lockdown.”
21.
Additionally, the State indicated that in order to improve the security situation in the
penitentiary complexes, currently a total of 2,020 individuals are guarding them as
penitentiary personnel, compared to 2,719 inmates currently. In this process, the State
expressed that in 2008 a total of 338 penitentiary personnel were hired. Of them, 260 hold
positions of security personnel and carry out guard duties. The remaining 78 agents work
as administrative and professional personnel. In 2009, a total of 318 penitentiary personnel
were hired. Of them, 271 hold positions of security personnel and carry out guard duties.
The remaining 47 agents work as administrative and professional personnel. In 2010, the
State has hired 70 members of the administrative personnel, and in the the month of
December 2010, 220 agents were hired as security personnel, representing a total of
approximately 200 hirings in the year 2010. In particular, the State reported that the
Boulogne Sur Mer complex has 667 officers, of which 471 correspond to the security corps
and 196 to the administrative corps. Likewise, that includes 96 individuals providing in-wall
guard services divided into three companies with rotating shifts of 24 hours of work and 48
hours of rest. Additionally, in the San Felipe II penitentiary complex, 282 personnel
currently provide services, of which 221 work in the security corps. The internal security
division includes 120 guards distributed in 32 officials per guard shift, working 24 hours on
and 48 hours off.
22. Likewise, the State indicated that it has created a specific department for training
penitentiary personnel where the different courses that have been provided in human
rights, narco criminality, crisis management, criminal intelligence, transportation of
inmates, guarding of high-risk inmates, and inspection training have been planned and
coordinated. The State also expressed that it has trained the penitentiary security officers
on specific methods of treatment and respect of human rights and that a budget for the
penitentiary school has been established within the action plan budget, a school that
currently does not exist in the Province.
23. In addition, in order to prevent the presence of weapons in the facilities, the State
indicated that it has set up inspection divisions, implementing them in the places where the
inmates are housed. The Boulogne Sur Mer Penitentiary has a division composed of 52
officers, while the San Felipe facility has an inspection division with nine officers who carry
out inspections. The inspections are carried out on a daily basis and follow a protocol with a
"detailed methodological, juridical, and technical process intended to preserve respect for
the inmates and prevent any kind of excesses.” In addition, the inspections and Boulogne
Sur Mer are recorded on video and remain at the disposal of the authorities for a period of
three months. The entrance of visitors is also regulated by personnel trained to do so. The
State indicated that "inspections are carried out on a daily basis and general inspections