4.2.3. Prison conditions

Table of contents

4.2.3. Prison conditions

Despite numerous laws and regulations to guarantee the respect for human rights in prisons, prison conditions remain poor due to lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, inhumane and degrading settings, and deficient physical and mental health services for prisoners.607 ICRC noted in 2025 that overcrowding reached 28 % in national prison facilities and 122 % in temporary detention facilities such as those in police units.608 The United Nations Convention against Torture commented on the misuse of pretrial detention causing lengthy wait times of up to two years in 'inhumane conditions' in temporary holding facilities. Large proportion of the prison population is held in 'deplorable conditions' with lack of access to drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene, and poor medical and psychological care.609 There were reports of deaths of inmates due to the actions or omissions of the authorities, including improperly using firearms and electroshock weapons.610 The monitoring of prisons was inadequate due to limited institutional capacity.611

  • 607

    Comisión de Seguimiento de la Sociedad Civil a la Sentencia T-388 de 2013, Décimo Primer Informe de Seguimiento al Estado de Cosas Inconstitucional del Sistema Penitenciario y Carcelario de Colombia, December 2023, url, pp. 96-97

  • 608

    ICRC, Colombia : 2025 set to be the decade's worst year in humanitarian terms, 30 July 2025, url

  • 609

    UNCAT, Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Colombia, 7 June 2023, url, para. 24

  • 610

    UNCAT, Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Colombia, 7 June 2023, url, para. 28

  • 611

    UNCAT, Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Colombia, 7 June 2023, url, para. 32