1,600 Indigenous People Jailed in Quintana Roo; 630 Unsentenced

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Institute for the Development of the Maya People and Indigenous Communities of Quintana Roo has revealed that more than 1,600 Indigenous individuals are currently held in the state's prisons, with 630 of them detained without a formal sentence.

Eder Enrique Chuc Cen, director of the institute, stated that the agency maintains records of Indigenous detainees across Quintana Roo's four prisons. This population represents approximately 40% of the state's total incarcerated population of 4,218 inmates.

According to Chuc Cen, an estimated 1,687 Indigenous individuals are imprisoned for various offenses. Of these, 630—roughly 15% of the total prison population—have spent months or even years behind bars without receiving a sentence due to their circumstances and other barriers preventing their release.

The director noted that most of these Indigenous detainees have been held for extended periods without sentencing, despite being charged with minor offenses such as theft, failure to pay child support, or domestic violence.

State government data indicates that programs have been implemented to address the specific needs of this vulnerable group. Key challenges include linguistic barriers, as the lack of interpreters and translators for Indigenous languages hinders communication between inmates and prison staff. Additionally, cultural differences and a lack of understanding of Indigenous customs and traditions have created conflicts and complications in social reintegration efforts.

Specialized programs for Indigenous inmates have been introduced, offering legal and psychological assistance in their native languages. However, officials acknowledge the need for greater investment in infrastructure and trained personnel to adequately address the unique needs of this population.