Currently in Mexico, there are around 11,000 detainees in preventive prison as part of the security strategy implemented by the current government. This strategy has led to the capture of many criminals, some of whom will end up in prison while others will be extradited, according to René Cáceres, a researcher at the Universidad Rosario Castellanos. The drug war between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, such as the 'Chapitos' and the 'Mayiza,' does not guarantee that all involved will end up in prison, as by January 2025 there is a prison population of 238,109 people, with overcrowding in the facilities according to data from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.
The National Census of Penitentiary Systems conducted by Inegi in 2023 reported that Mexico has 331 detention centers, including Federal, State, and Specialized Penitentiaries. In that year, the total capacity of Mexican prisons was 229,032 spaces, and the occupancy was 73.1% in Federal Centers and 105.9% in State Centers, with a total of 43,553 million 993 thousand 799 pesos allocated to the penitentiary network.
In January 2025, the Monthly Notebook of National Penitentiary Statistical Information reported that there are 238,109 people incarcerated in Mexico. Of these, 132,460 are awaiting sentencing for common law crimes, and 11,778 for federal crimes. Regarding the intake and release of individuals into the penitentiary network, in that same month, 14,815 individuals were admitted and 11,903 were released, with more men performing both movements.
According to René Cáceres, authorities must continue to imprison criminals to ensure the safety of victims and society in general. However, he warns about the overcrowding in Mexican prisons and the need to review some cases. Regarding the Amnesty Law, he believes that it should be improved to assess the profiles of individuals who could be granted amnesty.
Regarding security management by President Claudia Sheinbaum, her government has arrested about 11,600 people in Mexico and seized nearly 5,692 firearms, emphasizing that 74% comes from the United States. Additionally, in an operation at the border to combat the illegal trafficking of fentanyl and stop Donald Trump's tariffs, 222 individuals have been arrested and 106 firearms confiscated.
