On December 16 of last year, Sergeant Rodrigo Gómez of the Argentine Army tragically ended his life at the Quinta de Olivos following a series of extortion messages he received. In a discussion on the LN+ program, criminal defense attorney Hugo Trinidade scrutinized the responsibilities of the penitentiary system, emphasizing that the ongoing issues related to communications from inmates, exacerbated by the pandemic, have persisted even after its conclusion. He advocates for immediate action to prevent further tragedies by advocating for the removal of mobile phones and computers from prisons.

Trinidade elaborated on the mechanisms through which inmates have been able to communicate illicitly with the outside world, noting that the pandemic led to increased leniency in allowing prisoners to maintain connectivity with their families. He criticized this policy, arguing that it has led to dire consequences, including extortion cases such as that of Gómez, who was under duress from incoming messages. Therefore, he insists on reevaluating the access prisoners have to communication devices and the implications of this access on prison security and inmate well-being.

The discussion raises broader questions about the intersection of technology and security within the correctional system, and whether the allowances made during the pandemic are justifiable in the long term. As the justice system grapples with the balance of maintaining connection for rehabilitation purposes versus ensuring safety and security for inmates and society, the need for a critical reassessment of policies regarding inmate communications becomes increasingly evident.