La Mesa prison explained

La Mesa State Penitentiary is a prison in La Mesa, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It is considered "one of the most notorious prisons in Latin America".^[1] The prison was built for 2,000 inmates and had 2,500 inmates in the 1990s, but the number increased to over 7,000 by the 2010s.^[2] Prisoners have committed offenses ranging from theft to murder.^{[3] [4]}

Some prison guards were reported to have taken bribes in exchange for releasing prisoners or offering better conditions.^[5]

Sister Antonia Brenner, a Catholic nun, voluntarily lived with the inmates of La Mesa Prison for over thirty years, and was called "La mama" or the "Prison Angel". She lived in a 10-by-10 cell.^{[6] [7]}

In 2002, police demolished a luxury condominium for bribe-paying inmates inside the prison.^{[8] [9]} At that time, the most dangerous inmates were transferred to a new facility near Tecate.^[10]

Incidents

In April 1990, a drug raid by Federal Judicial Police officers resulted in the death of one man.^[11]

In September 2008, there were two riots. The September 13 riot, in which 3 inmates were killed, was caused by upset over the death of an inmate in a prison search for drugs and weapons. The September 18 riot, which killed 19 and injured 12, was caused by frustration of the inmates not being given any water since the first riot.^{[12] [13]}

Notable inmates

• Chalino Sánchez was incarcerated at the prison in 1984 on a variety of petty crimes. While in prison, he composed songs telling the stories of fellow inmates.^[14]
• Andrew Tahmooressi was incarcerated at the prison in 2014 after illegally bringing guns from the U.S. to Mexico.^{[15] [16]}

References

32.5064°N -116.9694°W

Notes and References

1. News: In Mexico, Justice at a Price . Mary . Jordan . . March 25, 2002.
2. News: Tijuana Prisoner: I Was Forced To Dig Drug Tunnel To San Diego . Carrie . Kahn . . February 6, 2014.
3. News: Mexico's La Mesa Penitentiary: An Experiment in Humanity . . 1995.
4. News: Doing Time in Tijuana : In La Mesa Penitentiary, Prisoners Live With Their Families, Rich Inmates Control the Real Estate and Everything--Even Guns and Drugs--Has a Price . SEBASTIAN . ROTELLA . . March 27, 1994 . subscription.
5. News: I'll take you inside La Mesa prison in Tijuana . . June 25, 1992.
6. News: Sister Antonia Brenner dies at 86; nun moved into Tijuana prison to tend to inmates . Marosi . Richard. Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2013.
7. News: Opinion: This nun lived in a Tijuana prison by choice . Jody . Hammond . . October 11, 2023 . registration.
8. News: Bulldozers bring prison reform . . January 8, 2015.
9. News: Infamous Prison City Torn Down . ANNE-MARIE . O’CONNOR . . September 16, 2002 . subscription.
10. News: Swift shake-up at notorious Tijuana prison . . . August 21, 2002.
11. Web site: PRISON CONDITIONS IN MEXICO . . March 8, 1991.
12. News: Mexican jail riot leaves 19 dead . . 18 September 2008.
13. News: Police kill 19 inmates in Mexico prison riot . . September 18, 2008.
14. News: 'Idolo': Why Singer Chalino Sánchez Is Still a Legend 30 Years After His Unsolved Murder . Blanca . Torres . . February 10, 2022.
15. News: Marine vet moved from Tijuana's La Mesa prison . SANDRA . DIBBLE . . May 9, 2014 . registration.
16. News: U.S. Marine tells of abuse in Mexican prison, but says he’s still hopeful . Nick . Valencia . Jason . Morris . Holly . Yan . . May 30, 2014.