The Minister of Government, Dinoska Montalvo, revealed this Tuesday that some 195 inmates escaped from La Joyita prison on Monday.  It was also revealed that eight other inmates were injured, as well as three police officers, one of whom was held captive by a group of inmates who later released him.  This is an ongoing story so stay tuned for updates.

Three inmates died inside the prison before the mass escape of prisoners took place. 

Above left to right is Jorge Torregrosa, director of the Penitentiary System; Dinoska Montalvo, Minister of the Interior; and Jaime Fernández, Director of the Police.

Authorities attribute the mass escape to clashes between rival gangs during the transfer of inmates. The riot left three dead and exposed serious security flaws in the prison system.

The country’s prisons are overcrowded by 10,227 people deprived of their liberty.

Amid the crisis generated by the prison break, the Ministry of Government has launched a project for the construction of a prison complex specializing in restitution and rehabilitation.  The ministry launched the public tender for the “Study, Design, Construction and Equipment” of this new center, whose reference price amounts to $85 million.