The inmates of Devoto prison staged a riot in protest against the government.

Last night, the violent inmates of Devoto prison staged a riot demanding the reopening of the student centers that operated in federal prisons and were closed by order of the Ministry of National Security.

The violent protest took place in cell blocks 1 and 5, where the inmates set fire to mattresses and sheets, as well as hung flags in the windows. One of them reads the message: "We have the right to education 1985-2025". Another flag displays the phrase: "The University is for everyone. CUD. 40 years".

According to reports, the riot began around 9:30 PM and lasted for more than an hour and a half. It is expected that tonight the inmates will protest again. So far, no injuries have been reported.

The detainees' demand comes more than a week after the publication in the Official Gazette of the resolution that determined the closure of student centers within the Federal Penitentiary Service (SPF).

Prison authorities argued that this activity interferes with the institution's main objective, which is the social readaptation of inmates.

In addition to the criminological security programs implemented by the regime, initiatives aimed at the reintegration of people deprived of liberty into society stand out.

These measures, included in the "Hands to Work" plan launched by Milei's Government, include mandatory activities, such as work and maintenance of common areas within penitentiary establishments.

In this context, the document states that "the attendance and presence of inmates in educational centers throughout the day prevents them from performing the mandatory tasks for social reintegration, particularly work tasks".

It also mentions that these responsibilities include "activities necessary for the maintenance of personal and common spaces that, while mandatory for all inmates —article 18 of the NATIONAL CONSTITUTION—, are aimed at compensating the resources invested by the NATIONAL STATE in the articulation of an effective penitentiary treatment".

For this reason, the Ministry of Security previously established the obligation for all inmates housed in the SPF to "participate in the maintenance, cleaning, and hygiene tasks of personal and common spaces in penitentiary establishments".

In this regard, Resolution 372/2025 explained that the participation of inmates in educational sessions exceeds the stipulated times and affects the rules of progressivity.

It also noted that this situation hinders compliance with individualized penitentiary treatment, mandatory by law, and has caused security issues within prison facilities.

"In this regulatory context, the conduct of educational activities, while a right of inmates, should not hinder compliance with the treatment —which is mandatory— as it constitutes the essential purpose of serving the custodial sentence and a higher objective of the system", they indicated from the agency.

According to explanations, the detainees are organized through student centers that "invoke the representation of student inmates" and remain in these spaces from Monday to Friday throughout the day —between 9 AM and 6 PM, depending on the prison—, far exceeding the time necessary for class attendance, under the argument of academic activities.