Sheinbaum’s security strategy has led to an 11% increase in Mexico’s prison population

March 30, 2026

escorted prisoner — Though President Sheinbaum continues to support — in theory — her predecessor's strategy of offering potential cartel members alternative life options, her main approach has been to make more arrests, resulting in an 11% increase in the prison population since she took office in October 2024. (Pedro Anza/Cuartoscuro)

The number of people in prison in Mexico has reached a historic high, with official records showing that as of Feb. 28 there were more than 260,000 people incarcerated in the 276 local and federal prisons across the nation.

In another historic record, Mexico’s prison population grew by 20,000 inmates in a single calendar year in 2025.

prison thru chain-link fence — President Sheinbaum’s more aggressive approach toward organized crime has increased the country’s prison population by 11%. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

While the data reflects the new security strategy adopted by President Claudia Sheinbaum after abandoning the “hugs, not bullets” policy embraced by her predecessor, the increase in arrests has resulted in prison overcrowding issues.

Thanks to Sheinbaum’s more aggressive approach toward organized crime, the country’s prison population has grown by 11%. When Sheinbaum was inaugurated as president on Oct. 1, 2024, there were 235,461 people incarcerated. By the end of February 2026, the figure had risen to 261,388.

During the first 17 months of her administration, 46,405 people were arrested. At the same time, however, a significant number of people were released from Mexican prisons, either because they had served their sentences or were allowed to continue legal proceedings while free or due to insufficient evidence. Thus, the prison population increase stands at 25,927 inmates.

The data also reveals the number of inmates by gender.

In October 2024, there were 221,620 men and 13,841 women in prison; by February 2026, the figures had risen to 245,022 men (up 10.5%) and 16,366 women (up 18.2%).

The success of the new strategy is causing problems for state prisons, however.

State-run facilities are currently housing 37,634 inmates more than they were built to hold. Federal prisons are also running out of space as there are only 7,816 bunks available in these penitentiaries.

According to the Security Ministry, 140 of the nation’s 276 prisons are overcrowded.

The newspaper El Sol de México reported that the state prisons with the most alarming levels of overcrowding are in Chiapas, Morelos and México state. The most extreme example is Social Reintegration Center No. 7 Huixtla, in Chiapas, with 510% overpopulation: 244 prisoners housed in a space designed for 40.

The overcrowding is attributed to the excessive reliance on pretrial detention (nearly 111,000 inmates, 42%, are awaiting trial), a situation that could be alleviated in April if the Supreme Court determines that this measure is unconstitutional.

With reports from El Financiero, Milenio and El Sol de México