16 dead in Haiti’s Saint-Marc prison break as overcrowded penitentiary system faces new crisis

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. The Haitian Times will continue to report on updated information as they become available.

GONAIVES — A prison break at the civil prison in Saint-Marc on Aug. 16 resulted in the deaths of 16 prisoners, the escape of at least 10 others, and injuries to two police officers, according to the local judicial authorities. The escape attempt also caused significant material damage within the prison, located in Haïti’s Artibonite department.

The incident unfolded early in the morning of Aug.16 as prisoners, agitated by a strike among prison guards over unpaid wages, seized an opportunity to overpower the guards as they were being escorted to the showers around 7 a.m. The unrest quickly escalated, leading to a violent confrontation that left parts of the prison in flames and several firearms missing.

“The strike by prison guards, which began on Aug.12, had left inmates without food or basic necessities for days. The guards, demanding back pay and better working conditions, were unable to provide the prisoners with the essentials, leading to widespread unrest,” said Marie Carmène Paul, the deputy coordinator of the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) in the Artibonite Department.

The chaotic scene in Saint-Marc is part of a broader pattern of instability that has plagued Haiti’s prison system for years. The country’s prisons are notoriously overcrowded, with many inmates spending years in pre-trial detention. This is the third prison break this year in Haiti, following a similar attempt in March at the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, where overcrowding and deteriorating conditions have fueled tensions among inmates. Gangs freed about 4,000 inmates after storming the penitentiary in a coordinated attack that contributed to the eventual resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The recent events are a continuation of this troubling trend, echoing a 2014 escape in Saint-Marc, where nearly three dozen inmates awaiting trial broke out by sawing through steel bars, underscoring the persistent security issues within the country’s prison system.

According to Venson François, the Government Commissioner at the Saint-Marc First Instance Court, the prison housed approximately 560 inmates at the time of the escape attempt. François reported that, in addition to the fatalities, two police officers sustained injuries, and two 12-gauge firearms were reported missing. Much of the prison’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed in the ensuing fire.

“This situation highlights the severe deficiencies in Haiti’s prison system,” said Merville Jacques, secretary of the Action Group for the Defense of Human Rights (GAD). “It’s a tragic mix of negligence and political gamesmanship that has put both prisoners and the broader community at risk.”

The escape attempt in Saint-Marc is not an isolated incident. The phenomenon of mass escapes underscores the challenges Haiti faces in maintaining the rule of law and ensuring the safety of its citizens.

François has promised a thorough investigation to determine the precise causes of the Saint-Marc escape attempt, including the role of prolonged pretrial detentions and the conditions within the prison.

 “We must confront the systemic issues plaguing our judicial system,” he said. “The battle to establish a strong, reliable justice system is one of the greatest challenges our country faces.”

The conditions within Haiti’s prisons remain dire, with overcrowding, unsanitary environments, and a lack of basic resources continuing to exacerbate the crisis. As the authorities struggle to regain control, human rights organizations said the need for reform has never been more urgent.

As of this writing, the situation seems to be under control, with a return to calm in the city and a strengthening of law enforcement. The vicinity of Rue Armand Thoby and Rue Pinchinat, where the prison is located, is completely surrounded by police, blocking civilian access.

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