Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz

In 1999, a new chapter began in Argentina’s correctional system with the inauguration of Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz. This wasn’t just another prison. It was envisioned as a model institution, a symbol of a new approach to incarceration. Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz, located on a sprawling 120-hectare site, was designed as a state-of-the-art complex. It boasted a central administrative sector and five independent housing modules. Each module was equipped with individual cells, a multipurpose room, sports area, classrooms, a library, and workshops for vocational training. This layout aimed to create a more structured and rehabilitative environment. The initial plan was for Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz to house inmates transferred from the former Unidad 2 de Devoto. However, the ever-increasing demand for prison spaces prevented this. The first inmates arrived at Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz on August 17, 2000. The modules were gradually opened, reaching full operational capacity in November 2001. The staff, specially selected and trained by the construction company, were equipped to handle the new technologies and concepts of the complex. The design of Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz, like its counterpart in Ezeiza, stemmed from the Federal Penitentiary Service’s master plan (Decree 426/95). This coincided with the enactment of Law 24.660 on the Execution of Imprisonment and its subsequent regulations. The construction was undertaken by a joint venture: Dragados y Construcciones S.A., Fomento de Construcciones y Contrataciones S.A., and DYCASA S.A., a primarily Spanish company. A significant shift occurred in 2009. The residential modules of Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz gained autonomy. A Specific Organization Manual was approved, granting administrative and operational decentralization. This empowered module directors to manage their specific tasks more effectively. Today, Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz stands as a testament to modern correctional design in Argentina and Latin America. It represents an ongoing effort to balance security with rehabilitation. It offers a glimpse into the complexities of the Argentine justice system and its evolving approach to incarceration. The total population of inmates at Complejo Penitenciario Federal 2 de Marcos Paz is approximately 2000. They are categorized as Category A Security, reflecting the maximum-security nature of the facility.