Catalan prison restraints data has been publicly disclosed for the first time, revealing 313 mechanical immobilisations in Catalan prisons during the first ten months of 2025.
Justice Minister Ramon Espadaler presented the figures to Parliament while responding to a European torture prevention report demanding the abolition of such practices.
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The data shows a 22.4% reduction compared to the previous year, continuing a downward trend since 2023.
Catalan Prison Restraints Data Shows Disproportionate Impact
The newly released statistics reveal significant disparities in how mechanical restraints are applied across different prisoner groups. Furthermore, inmates in closed or isolation regimes face immobilisation eight times more frequently than those with temporary release permissions or in semi-liberty. Consequently, the ratio stands at 9.16 restraints per 100 prisoners in closed regimes compared to just 1.21 for those with more freedom.
Young prisoners under 25 experience disproportionately higher restraint rates, with 3.74 immobilisations per 100 inmates compared to 1.28 among adults. Meanwhile, gender analysis revealed surprising patterns. Although women represent only 869 of Catalonia’s 13,704 prisoners, their restraint rate of 2.3 per 100 exceeds the male rate of 1.51.
The Council of Europe’s Prevention of Torture committee has repeatedly called for Catalonia to abolish mechanical restraints for disciplinary reasons, limiting them strictly to medical purposes. Minister Espadaler acknowledged the pressure while defending his department’s progress, stating elimination wasn’t immediately feasible but reduction remained the priority.
Restraint Reduction Strategy Faces Parliamentary Scrutiny
Justice officials attribute two-thirds of restraint incidents to prisoner aggression or serious resistance toward staff. Additionally, 42.5% of immobilisations followed self-directed violence episodes, including 5.75% involving suicide attempts. Prisoner fights accounted for 4.47% of cases, highlighting the complex security challenges facing correctional staff.
The data reveals concerning patterns of repetition, with nearly half of this year’s restraints applied to prisoners immobilised multiple times. Moreover, a quarter of restrained inmates accounted for half of all incidents, suggesting targeted intervention strategies might prove most effective. Mental health considerations also emerged significant, with 14% of restrained prisoners requiring specialised medical unit admission within 30 days.
Secretary of Penal Measures Elena Pérez defended next week’s parliamentary proposal to grant prison officers authority status, arguing it could minimise risk situations and further reduce restraint usage. This development follows recent security initiatives across Barcelona’s justice system. The Catalan government continues balancing European human rights standards with practical prison management realities while pursuing its restraint reduction objectives.
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