Argentina is grappling with a high recidivism rate, particularly in Buenos Aires. According to authorities, in the last 90 days, out of 3,000 arrests made in the act, 50% were released within less than 24 hours. This creates a 'revolving door' situation where the same individuals return to the streets. The city has 12,000 operational cameras and 78% public support for pre-trial detention for repeat offenders but cannot fully utilize these resources due to the lack of national reform. The city's Security Secretary, Maximiliano Piñeiro, is calling for three key measures: the creation of a unified national registry of repeat offenders, mandatory electronic monitoring for released offenders with a history, and lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 15 for serious crimes. Experts note that the current system is costly, unjust, and counterproductive. Successful models like Singapore, Tokyo, and London are cited as examples of how to reduce recidivism through a combination of strict measures, rehabilitation, and technology. While Argentina has one of the lowest homicide rates in the region, its recidivism rate is twice the OECD average. Experts emphasize that the recidivism problem is systemic, not individual, and requires comprehensive solutions.
