THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF PRISON BUILDINGS HAS A LONGER TRADITION IN MEXICO THAN IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. HISTORICALLY, PRISON ARCHITECTURE FIRST MIRRORED THE PHILOSOPHY OF HARSH PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS (DUNGEONS), THEN UNDERWENT A PHASE OF SECURITY AND ISOLATION FOR THE MORAL REGENERATION OF INMATES (RADIAL BUILDINGS, EASILY WATCHED FROM A CENTRAL POINT). NOW EMPHASIS ON INMATES' REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION REQUIRES A MULTI-PURPOSE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, WITH SPACES FOR WORK AND RECREATION, AS INSPIRED BY THE FINDINGS OF MEDICINE, SOCIAL WORK, AND PSYCHOLOGY. A DETAILED HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF PRISON ARCHITECTURE IN MEXICO SHOWS THAT AN ENLIGHTENED PENAL PHILOSOPHY HAD ALREADY BEEN ATTAINED IN THE 19TH CENTURY. RECENT CRIMINAL LAW REFORM IS REFLECTED IN NEWLY-BUILT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. UNFORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, MEXICO IS A FEDERATION OF STATES AND HAS NO FEDERALLY-ENFORCEABLE NORMS, SO THAT PLANNING IS UNEVEN. GENERALLY, THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF MEXICAN PRISONS REFLECTS THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF DIFFERENT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (PREVENTIVE DETENTION FOR JAILS AND LONG-TERM OCCUPATION FOR PENITENTIARIES). THE DESIGN OF PENITENTIARIES INCLUDES (1) OFFICE FACILITIES FOR PRISON GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION; (2) HEALTH AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS; (3) EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES (SCHOOLS, WORKSHOPS, LIBRARIES); (4) SOCIAL CENTERS WHERE INMATES RECEIVE VISITORS, INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS; (5) RECREATIONAL FACILITIES (GYMS, AUDITORIUMS); (6) SECURITY INSTALLATIONS WHERE INCOMING PEOPLE AND VEHICLES ARE SCREENED; (7) DETENTION FACILITIES FOR INMATES (DORMITORIES, SHOWERS, MESSHALLS, SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SECTIONS); AND (8) GENERAL SERVICES (KITCHENS, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, WAREHOUSES, AND PLANTS). THE NEW PRISON ARCHITECTURE IN MEXICO COMBINES SECURITY AND FLEXIBILITY, THE LATTER BY THE USE OF MODULAR UNITS WHEREVER FEASIBLE. --IN SPANISH. (LGR)