A series of inmate suicides in prisons across Catalonia has ignited fierce criticism from human rights organisations and prison staff unions, who are demanding political and criminal accountability over what they describe as a systemic failure in prevention protocols. Three inmates took their own lives between February and March 2026, prompting calls for an urgent review of conditions within the region’s penitentiary system.

The deaths occurred at two separate facilities: two at the Centre Penitenciari Puig de les Basses in Figueres and one at Quatre Camins in Granollers. The Catalan Department of Justice confirmed that two of the deceased were held in the Special Closed Regime Department (DERT), a high-security isolation unit reserved for inmates considered dangerous or who have difficulty adapting to the general prison population.

The incident at Quatre Camins places the facility back in the spotlight, following recent revelations about a major smuggling network involving staff and inmates that raised separate concerns about institutional oversight.

A System in Crisis

The deaths have drawn a sharp response from civil society. La Xarxa Dret i Presó, a network of human rights groups including Irídia and Alerta Solidària, issued a damning statement condemning the official silence that initially surrounded the events. According to reporting by VilaWeb, the network learned of the suicides through its own monitoring, not through official channels.

“The loss of human life under the administration’s custody cannot be normalised without accountability or public explanations,” the network stated, accusing the department of a “complete lack of transparency” and contempt for the public’s right to information.

The groups argue that the suicides are evidence of a failed prevention strategy and are calling for an investigation into the increased use of solitary confinement and harsh disciplinary measures, which they believe can have “lethal consequences.” The Observatory of the Penal System and Human Rights (OSPDH) at the University of Barcelona has echoed these concerns, criticising the rise in isolation practices.

Calls for Resignation and Political Action

Prison staff have also voiced their alarm. The Sicap-Fepol union described the situation as an “irrefutable proof” that the most sensitive areas of the prisons are “totally overwhelmed.” In a statement reported by ABC Cataluña, the union called for the immediate resignation of the Director General of Penitentiary Affairs, Domingo Estepa, citing severe understaffing and political mismanagement.

The political fallout has already begun, with the ERC, Comuns, and CUP parties formally requesting that the Catalan Minister of Justice, Ramón Espadaler, appear before parliament to provide a full explanation.

A Troubling Trend

The Generalitat de Catalunya has acknowledged the severity of the situation. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice stated that “any death in a penitentiary centre is a failure” and affirmed its commitment to improving prevention systems. These recent events occurred despite a “shock plan” launched in collaboration with the Health Department in October 2024, designed specifically to curb the rising rate of prison suicides.

That plan was introduced after a particularly deadly year in 2024, which ended with 11 inmate suicides, up from six the previous year. However, statistics reveal a deeper, more persistent problem. According to a Council of Europe report with data from 2022, the suicide rate in Catalan prisons stood at 16.8 per 10,000 inmates. This figure is more than double both the European average of 7.1 and the average for the rest of Spain, which was 7.3.

As authorities promise to analyse the recent tragedies to bolster prevention, human rights advocates and prison staff remain sceptical, demanding not just improved protocols but fundamental changes to a system they see as being in a state of critical failure.