The Justice Ministry does not release official statistics regarding the annual number of deaths in prisons.
The government says Venezuela has more than 44,000 inmates in its 34 prisons. The prisons were built to hold about 12,500 inmates, according to Venezuelan Prisons Observatory.
President Hugo Chavez promised last year to fix the South American nation’s corrupt and violent penitentiary system, swearing in congresswoman Iris Varela as minister for penitentiary affairs.
Chavez expressed optimism that Varela, who is also a lawyer and high-ranking governing party member, would help root out widespread graft and curb violence in some of Latin America’s most violent prisons.
The president created the new Cabinet post shortly after inmates led an armed, weekslong uprising that caused seven deaths at the Rodeo I prison and adjacent Rodeo II lockup. Negotiations permitted a peaceful end to the 27-day uprising, which pitted rebellious prisoners against hundreds of National Guard soldiers sent to regain control of the prisons.
Human rights activists have strongly criticized authorities, including Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami, for failing to crack down on rampant corruption among National Guard troops who take bribes to let inmates obtain drugs, alcohol and weapons.
