Today in history: On August 20, 2012 – A prison riot in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, kills at least 20

 

In 2012, Venezuela witnessed one of its deadliest prison riots when violence erupted at Yare I prison, located just outside Caracas, the capital. The riot broke out between rival gangs fighting for control inside the overcrowded facility, which at the time housed far more inmates than it was built to hold. Reports indicated that firearms, grenades, and other weapons were smuggled into the prison, turning the standoff into a prolonged battle. 

The Venezuelan National Guard attempted to regain control, but the heavy firepower of the inmates made intervention extremely difficult, leading to a siege-like situation. By the time order was restored, at least 20 people had been killed, and dozens more were injured, highlighting the severity of violence within the country’s prison system.

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The Yare I prison riot drew global attention to Venezuela’s chronic prison crisis. The country’s penitentiaries were notorious for extreme overcrowding, poor living conditions, and the effective control of many facilities by powerful inmate gangs rather than state authorities. Relatives of inmates gathered outside the prison during the chaos, demanding answers and fearing for their loved ones. 

Critics of the government pointed to the riot as evidence of systemic failure in Venezuela’s justice and security institutions, accusing authorities of neglect and corruption that allowed prisons to become breeding grounds for organized crime. The tragedy reinforced the urgent need for reform, but despite public outrage, Venezuela’s prisons continued to suffer from similar outbreaks of violence in the years that followed.

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