One of the great historical challenges in Mexico has been the proper functioning of penitentiary centers. Lack of budget, prison overcrowding, human rights violations and torture are some of the most recurring problems in prisons.

Between the ideal of social reintegration, stated in article 18 of the Constitution, and what happens in reality, there is a gap that generates the question: do we really have a social reintegration program? The truth is that it takes a lot of work to consolidate a system that works to achieve two issues: sanction the commission of criminal acts and that the criminal, upon regaining his freedom, can fully rejoin society. So what forms would have to be considered to consolidate a fairer national prison system that meets current needs?

Another of the big questions that the penitentiary centers generate is that of their usefulness. Already since the 19th century, many criminologists have predicted the disappearance of prison: the phenomenon is to fight crime and create a fairer society. Locking up an offender does not prevent, it only punishes; Perhaps this will reduce the incidence? Or will it provide justice for the victim?

These and other questions are asked by the authors of number nine of the RMCP, which integrates a cousin of studies on the prison phenomenon in the country, including the winner of the sex National Competition for Criminological Investigations organized by the Decentralized Administrative Body of Prevention and Social Readaptation (OADPRS)

Thus, issues ranging from indigenous boarding school status (as a highly vulnerable person) to current phenomena of excessive use of preventive detention as a precautionary measure that violates the principle of presumption of innocence are analyzed.

We hope that this edition generates a reflection on this topic.

Alejandra Silva