The Court of First Instance in Criminal, Misdemeanor, and Offenses No. 23 of the City of Buenos Aires has ordered the transfer of convicted prisoners housed in police stations of the city to prisons of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FPS), in response to a habeas corpus filed by the Public Defender's Office of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires due to overcrowding in these facilities.
Judge Norberto Circo coordinated the transfer of about 411 inmates who are currently in police stations in the capital to the FPS, aiming to ensure a comprehensive response to the existing issue and secure the effective protection of the rights of persons deprived of liberty in the City of Buenos Aires.
In a statement, the judge emphasized the importance of preventing the situation of convicted prisoners in the police stations from leading to violations of their dignity or the implementation of inhumane or degrading treatment, noting that while the rights of those deprived of liberty are restricted, their fundamental rights should not be violated.
Currently, 2,455 individuals are housed in 37 police stations and 41 detention centers in the City of Buenos Aires, a figure that exceeds more than double the capacity of these facilities. This judicial decision has emerged in a context of tensions between the city government and the national government regarding the management and destination of detainees, exacerbated by recent riots and escapes of prisoners. Of the detainees, 181 already have final sentences, while the rest have first-instance convictions.
