Nicaraguan government announces the release of 1,200 prisoners in April

San José.- Nicaragua's co-president, Rosario Murillo, announced this Friday that on April 1st, 1,200 common prisoners with final sentences will be released to live under a family cohabitation regime in their homes. The 1,200 people deprived of their liberty will receive the legal benefit of release under the family coexistence regime during an act to be held at the headquarters of the National Penitentiary System, near Managua, the largest prison in Nicaragua known as 'La Modelo', as well as in seven other prisons, according to the information. With those released, the number of common prisoners freed will increase to 2,400 so far this year, according to official information.

On February 2nd, the Government of Nicaragua pardoned 1,200 common prisoners with final sentences to live under a family cohabitation regime in their homes, on the occasion of the National Day of Reconciliation and Peace, which is commemorated on February 2nd in the country in honor of the deceased Nicaraguan cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo (1926-2018).

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Nicaraguan authorities have released from prison and placed under the family coexistence regime a total of 53,164 common inmates in the last ten years, of whom 7.18% have reoffended in the commission of at least one crime, according to government data. The release of common convicts before serving their sentences has been criticized, mainly by feminist organizations, under the argument that femicides and general crime have increased in Nicaragua. In 2025, the authorities benefited 9,900 of these convicts with this measure, the largest number in the last decade.