Argentina reached, at the end of 2024, the highest level of incarceration since official records have existed, according to a report by the National Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CNPT).
In this context, the population housed in penitentiary units reached 121,443 people, which meant an increase of 7.1% in relation to the previous year. The survey confirmed sustained growth of the incarceration system throughout the country, where the incarceration rate stood at 258 detainees per 100,000 inhabitants, a value that also marked a historic high.
Regarding the judicial situation, CNPT indicated that 62% of inmates had a final conviction. Meanwhile, 37.3% remained detained under pretrial detention, awaiting a sentence.
The report also identified marked differences between jurisdictions. In Neuquén, almost the entire prison population had a final sentence, while in provinces such as Córdoba and Formosa nearly half of detainees had not received a definitive conviction.
