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Catalonia focuses on prisons after several deaths and thousands of mechanical restraints
Catalonia is opening a new political and social front around its prisons. The Parlament de Catalunya has set up a working group to analyse the mental and physical health of inmates, following several incidents that have increased pressure on the prison system.
The decision comes after months of debate and several recent deaths in prison, including three fatalities within a few months at the centro de Puig de les Basses. The rise in suicides has accelerated the need to review protocols and living conditions in penitentiary centres.
The group will examine particularly sensitive issues: the use of mechanical restraints, isolation, access to psychological support, and real possibilities for reintegration. One of the most concerning facts is that Catalonia accounts for the majority of mechanical restraints recorded in Spain in recent years.
The discussion also affects the penitentiary model. Various parties and organisations are calling for a return to the importance of the open regime and for strengthening mental health resources within prisons, something they consider key to reducing tension and preventing extreme situations.
The Departament de Justícia of the Generalitat de Catalunya states that suicide prevention is already a priority and that measures are being promoted together with the health system. At the same time, unions and some parties are asking that the debate does not end up blaming prison staff.
The focus on prisons reflects a broader debate about coexistence, rights, and security. How this review is managed could shape the future of the Catalan penitentiary model and change the way society views rehabilitation and mental health within prison.