Ecuador's Prisons: A Growing Crisis Behind Bars

Ecuador's prisons are in deep trouble. The number of deaths inside them is rising fast. In 2025, 1, 220 inmates died. That's a huge jump from previous years. Violence is part of the problem. Gang fights and other violent acts killed at least 206 people. That's four times more than the year before. But it's not just violence. Many inmates are dying from illness. Tuberculosis is spreading fast. Overcrowding makes it worse. There's not enough space or medical care. Families of inmates say conditions are terrible. They talk about abuse, not enough food, and poor treatment.The government says it's doing its best. They put the military in charge of some prisons. They're building new ones. They moved some high-profile prisoners. But the numbers tell a different story. Deaths are still high. Families and rights groups say the military presence makes things worse. The government admits there's overcrowding. They say they're working on it. But for now, the situation is grim. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has asked Ecuador to improve conditions. They're especially worried about the Litoral Penitentiary. It's one of the most dangerous prisons in the country. The government says they're transferring prisoners to break up gang control. They moved around 900 inmates in January alone. They're building a new maximum-security prison. But will it be enough? Only time will tell.