She met her partner on Facebook and is now serving 20 years for robbery

In Mexico, nearly four out of ten people deprived of their liberty remain in prison without having received a sentence, a reality that affects men and women unequally. According to INEGI figures, at the end of 2022, 49.3% of women incarcerated in penitentiary centers lacked a court ruling, compared to 38.4% of men.

Although the vast majority of the prison population is men (94.4%, or 213,390 inmates) compared to 5.6% of women (12,726), the proportion of women without a sentence is higher. The data, taken from the National Census of Penitentiary Systems at the federal and state levels (CNSIPEE-F), reflect that, of a total of 226,116 people incarcerated in detention centers, 88,172 had no sentence.

At 21, Claudia was going through a vulnerable time after separating from the father of her child and, like many young women in her life, was immersed in caring for her little boy and living with her family. It was then that, through Facebook, she began a conversation with a man who captivated her with constant messages and attention. His persistence and flirting managed to persuade her to arrange a date, despite her initial reluctance, as he openly confessed his recent release from prison.

Sin embargo, el rumbo cambió radicalmente cuando el consumo de drogas irrumpió en la relación. Su pareja, al principio, normalizaba el uso de marihuana, y Claudia terminó aceptándolo. Con el tiempo, la situación escaló al consumo de crack y ella se volvió adicta.

Buscar drogas y acompañar a su pareja en actividades ilícitas —principalmente robos a peatones, transporte público y extorsiones— se convirtió en algo habitual. Su papel, según narra en el podcast, fue desde acompañante hasta facilitadora en los hechos delictivos.

La detención ocurrió durante un atraco cercano a Día de Reyes. Claudia se encontraba esperando en el vehículo mientras su pareja y un amigo realizaban el robo; tras una persecución y un accidente automovilístico, terminó en manos de la policía. El proceso judicial culminó en una sentencia de 24 años de prisión, posteriormente reducida a 20 años y 6 meses tras un recurso legal. El cómplice se entrega y confiesa, su pareja es detenida en otro asalto.