Analysis Opinion

Brazil: the vital work of the Public Defenders’ Office in a public health crisis

Patrick Cacicedo is a Public Defender based in São Paulo.Patrick holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo (USP), and is a researcher in prison matters. Here, Patrick reflects on the work of the Public Defenders’ Officeg and the alarming situation of Brazilian prisons during the current health crisis.

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries. Read Patrick Cacicedo’s insights.

The deterioration in prison conditions was a predictable outcome, given that Brazil’s prison system is 170% above official capacity.

The prison population has increased during the pandemic.

We are the worst example of pandemic management, both within and outside of penitentiary facilities.

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Patrick Cacicedo

Public Defender

Patrick Cacicedo is a Public Defender based in São Paulo.Patrick holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo (USP), and is a researcher in prison matters.

About the project

Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in ten countries

This comparative research and policy project is led by the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (ICPR), based at Birkbeck, University of London. To understand the causes and consequences of over-incarceration worldwide, ICPR has worked with a large network of NGOs, academic researchers and practitioners spanning this diverse selection of countries. ICPR partnered with Prison Insider in the latter stages of the project to shed light on aspects of prisoners’ lived experience in custody before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project team collaborated to gather national experts’ insights, and to facilitate a continuing global conversation around the key research findings.
The project focuses on five main themes that can be found in the drop-down menu.
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