At least 537 people have died in Salvadoran prisons while detained under the state of exception since March 2022, with 94% of the deceased lacking any gang profile, according to a report by the non-governmental organization Sociedad Jurídico Humanitario (SJH).
The group warned that the real death toll could exceed 1,000 due to a systematic effort to conceal information in mass trials.
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The majority of deaths occurred in prisons holding most of the more than 92,000 detainees under the regime, most of whom lack final judicial sentences. Data on the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) remains strictly undisclosed. SJH stated on social media that the humanitarian crisis is “unstoppable” and that the lives of inmates were extinguished in a context of total impunity.
A January report by the organization found that physical violence is the leading cause of death in Salvadoran prisons (32%), followed by other violent deaths (31.8%) and lack of medical care (31.6%). The organization relies on family accounts because official state information remains under absolute secrecy.
#URGENTE
La crisis humanitaria en El Salvador es imparable. Durante 52 meses bajo el régimen de excepción, al menos 537 personas han muerto bajo la custodia del Estado sin haber sido vencidas en juicio. Lo que es aún más alarmante es que el 94% de estas personas no tenían perfil… pic.twitter.com/TLopyAZ5Lq— Socorro Jurídico Humanitario (@SJHumanitario) June 17, 2026
The state of exception was implemented in March 2022 after a gang-related homicide spike killed more than 80 people in a single weekend. President Nayib Bukele defends the measure with backing from the Legislative Assembly, dominated by his New Ideas party.
Humanitarian organizations have recorded 6,889 human rights complaints up to March of this year, with 98% related to arbitrary detentions. National Civil Police agents are identified as responsible in 75% of documented cases.
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