Democracy Behind Bars: Guatemalan Prisons

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Roche, Mackenzie
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Curriculum in Global Studies

Abstract

As the world tries its best to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk communities are at the forefront of discussion. While many communities most at-risk, such as the elderly, are met with sympathy and concern, one certain at-risk group of people is dismissed because of their social status: prisoners. Although they live in communal spaces that are often crowded, and lack access to personal protective gear, which is necessary to avoid spreading the virus, carceral-centered societies have little concern for the health of prisoners specifically. During the pandemic, instead of caring about the personal health of the prisoners, many governments have treated prisons as a threat to general public health. This apathy and depersonalization extends to almost every issue incarcerated people face, and the easiest place to determine where democracy begins to crumble is to consider how a government treats its most vulnerable populations. This evidence of a devolving representative government is seen notably in Guatemala. The prison system in Guatemala is a hindrance to the country’s democracy, which can be addressed through prison complex reforms, judicial reforms, and social reforms.

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