In the context of the recent departure of Waldo Wolff from the Ministry of Security and the arrival of Horacio Giménez as his replacement, a record growth of the prison population has been observed in the City of Buenos Aires. According to official data, the number of detainees housed in the facilities of the City Police has reached a historic record. In 2020, there were 448 detainees in Buenos Aires police stations, while at the end of 2024, the figure increased to 2,128, and in February 2025, the number soared to 2,434 arrested, with 1,981 Argentines and 453 foreigners, which worries authorities due to its sustained growth.
Data from the City Police reveal that the crimes with the highest number of detainees are robbery and theft, attempted robbery, sexual abuse, and homicide. Of the detainees, 418 have a final sentence, of which 188 have already received a definitive sentence, including two with life imprisonment.
The port government reported that in 2024, total spending on security and the maintenance of detainees amounted to $70.161 billion, which implies a daily cost of $83,576 per person. In this context, the head of the port government, Jorge Macri, presented the academic year for police and firefighters in the City and took the opportunity to provide details about the current situation of detainees in the Federal Capital, announcing more patrol cars, motorcycles, equipment, technology, and works in police stations and detention centers.
The port government also announced a new investment in security, allocating more than $26 billion to strengthen the equipment of the City Police. 120 vans, 60 motorcycles, 40 ATVs, and 4 armored minibuses with license plate readers and 360° cameras will be incorporated, as well as new technologies to enhance patrolling and security in the City.
The increase in the prison population and the need for more resources create strong pressure on the port penitentiary system, amid the dispute between Jorge Macri and national Security Minister Patricia Bullrich over the management of prisoners and security in the City. In the words of Jorge Macri during the presentation of the Police Fleet Plan of the City Police, 'Never before had the City of Buenos Aires allocated so many resources to security.'
