Topo Chico (prison) facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 25°43′30″N 100°20′44″W / 25.72500°N 100.34556°W |
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| Status | closed |
| Capacity | 3,685 |
| Population | 4,091 (as of September 2015) |
| Managed by | Secretariat of Public Security |
| Director | Gregoria Salazar Robles |
| City | Monterrey |
| State | Nuevo León |
| Country | Mexico |
| Notable prisoners | |
| Jorge Lankenau | |
Topo Chico was a large prison located in Monterrey, a city in northern Mexico. It was situated close to the Penitenciaría (Spanish for 'penitentiary') metro station.
This prison was managed by the Government of Mexico through an organization called the Secretariat of Public Security (which in Spanish is Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, or SSP). The person in charge of the prison was Gregoria Salazar Robles, who started her role on March 12, 2012.
Contents
What was Topo Chico Prison?
Topo Chico was a place where people who broke the law were kept. It was designed to hold a certain number of people, but sometimes it had more.
Location in Monterrey
The prison was found in the city of Monterrey, which is in the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. Its exact location was important for the city's public safety.
Who managed the prison?
The prison was managed by the Secretariat of Public Security. This is a government department responsible for keeping people safe and managing prisons in Mexico.
Conditions and Closure
By September 2015, Topo Chico prison was very crowded. It was built for 3,685 people, but it had 4,091 people living there. This meant there were many more people than the prison was designed for.
Building challenges
A report from 2014 by a United Nations expert, Juan E. Méndez, mentioned that the prison's buildings were in poor condition. Often, there wasn't enough water, light, or fresh air in the cells where people stayed. These conditions made it difficult for everyone inside.
Why did Topo Chico close?
Because of its age, overcrowding, and the poor state of its buildings, Topo Chico prison was eventually closed down. This decision was made to improve safety and conditions for everyone.
See also
- In Spanish: Penal del Topo Chico para niños
