La reforma penitenciaria en Ecuador: Análisis de la implementación de políticas de rehabilitación y reinserción

Abstract

Penitentiary reform in Ecuador faces significant challenges in implementing rehabilitation and reintegration policies. Despite regulations such as the Constitution and the Organic Comprehensive Criminal Code (COIP), the penitentiary system struggles with critical structural issues like overcrowding, internal violence, and lack of resources. This study aims to analyze these deficiencies through a descriptive qualitative approach, using exegetical analysis of laws and a comprehensive review of specialized literature. The findings reveal a clear absence of effective policies for full inmate rehabilitation and reintegration into Ecuadorian society, limiting their ability to reenter both social and labor markets, perpetuating a cycle of recidivism. Although palliative measures like pardons and internal redistributions have been implemented, they do not address the underlying structural causes. In conclusion, the inadequate implementation of rehabilitation programs and adverse prison conditions hinder the system’s goals of rehabilitation and social reintegration, perpetuating a penitentiary crisis that impacts both inmates and society at large.