Prisons in Bolivia


There are 54 prisons in Bolivia which incarcerated 16,613 people as of 2017. Approximately 70% of prisoners have yet to receive their sentences, and are either awaiting trial, or presently on trial.
The prisons are managed by the Penitentiary Regime Directorate. There are 17 prisons in departmental capital cities and 36 provincial prisons. The Defensor del Pueblo consider pre-trial detainees as people deprived of their right to liberty. The prison population is growing rapidly; it was previously around 8,700 people as of 2010. Overcrowding is at a serious level, with the total prison population at three times the capacity of the prisons. An investigative survey by the Defensor del Pueblo of 20 rural prisons found that they lack the basic infrastructure necessary to function humanely.
Urban prisons include San Pedro Prison and Chonchocoro Prison in La Paz, and San Sebastian Prison in Cochabamba and Palmasola Prison in Santa Cruz.
PrisonCityDepartmentDate founded
San Pedro PrisonLa PazLa Paz1895
Chonchocoro PrisonLa PazLa Paz1992
Miraflores Women's PrisonLa PazLa Paz1997
Obrajes Women's PrisonLa PazLa Paz1957
Qalauma Juvenile CenterViachaLa Paz2011
San Sebastian PrisonCochabambaCochabamba1935
San Antonio PrisonCochabambaCochabamba1988
El AbraCochabambaCochabamba1999
San Pablo Prison QuillacolloCochabamba
San Pedro Prison SacabaCochabamba
Palmasola PrisonSanta Cruz de la SierraSanta Cruz1989
Villa Busch prisonCobijaPando2002
Mocoví PrisonTrinidadBeni1994
Morros Blancos PrisonTarijaTarija1990
San RoqueSucreChuquisaca1900
CantumarcaPotosíPotosí2001
San Pedro Prison OruroOruro1940