Prison population within the border: The demonstration of a disintegrating social reality

• Main Authors: David Fuentes Romero, Guadalupe Ortega Villa, Héctor Velázquez González
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Autonoma de Baja California 2003-01-01
• Series: Estudios Fronterizos
• Subjects: Sistema penal; CERESOS (Centros de Rehabilitación Social); Frontera; Perfil criminal.
• Online Access: http://ref.uabc.mx/ojs/index.php/ref/article/view/257

The objective of the present work is to show the profile of the inmates of the CERESO (Social Rehabilitation Center) in Mexicali, according to their birthplace, whit relation to the crimes which caused their convictions, and also whit their drug consumption. The data used come from interviews carried out among 928 prisoners, 35.9% of the total population of that penal institution. The results seem to show a certain specialization: out of the state immigrants whit crimes of federal jurisdiction, connected to drug trafficking and humans beings traffic; and natives from Baja California with courts of equity crimes. An increase in drug consumption may be observed inside the prison, and much higher consumption by those born in Baja California.