We invite you to read the letter to the editor written by our senior associate in the Criminal Law Group, David Segall, in which he addresses the complex prison situation in Chile in light of recent events involving prison guards.
Dear Editor:
A corruption network involving more than 40 prison guards has recently been uncovered. Bribes to bring in prohibited items and fees to allow undocumented individuals into prison are part of what has come to light in recent days and has led to an unprecedented formal hearing, in which uniformed prison guards ended up guarding their colleagues in the courtroom, this time dressed in yellow vests.
The uncovering of this situation reveals an extremely complex issue: that the prison crisis our country is going through is not only a matter of overcrowding and poor conditions for inmates—perhaps the main points on which public debate has focused so far when this issue is raised—but also concerns the very institution responsible for the custody and social reintegration of prisoners. It is paradoxical and disturbing that those mandated to reintegrate prisoners into society make a daily habit of committing crimes, undermining one of the primary purposes of the agency.
In times when organized crime is on the rise, it is imperative to adopt efficient and prompt measures to detect and eradicate these irregularities, while promoting civil service careers and improving the working conditions of prison guards.
The integrity and proper functioning of the Gendarmerie are an inherent part of the fight against organized crime and, as such, cannot be ignored by our authorities.
Letter written by:
David Segall | Senior Associate Criminal Law Group | dsegall@az.cl
