Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

October 3, 2022

Brazil: voting rights are flouted

Opinion

Pre-trial detention South America Justice Brazil

Brazil, 2022, electoral year. The law provides that prisoners in pre-trial detention are allowed to vote. There is an ongoing legal battle for the right to vote for people in pre-trial detention. Read more

June 15, 2022

Brazil: destacan la alta escolaridad formal en las cárceles de la región

News

South America Activities Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 24, 2022

Brasil: Pelea en una cárcel causa cinco muertos y 18 heridos

News

South America Protest Violence Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

February 21, 2022

Brazil: Reading books can reduce prison sentence

News

Culture South America Activities Brazil

Inmates who read books during their time in prison get their imprisonment time reduced, as per a report by Reuters. Brazil is one of the most crime-prone places in Latin America. Brazil’s prisons have always been considered as places to be hosting some of the most dangerous people in the world alon…

Source — The Financial Express

February 11, 2022

Brasil: Visita del órgano de prevención de la tortura de la ONU para reforzar el mecanismo nacional de prevención de la tortura

News

South America Torture Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

September 28, 2021

In Brazil, loved ones may be far away but remain supportive

Interview

Women South America Social ties Brazil

On visiting days, fewer people wait in front of women’s prisons than men’s prisons, but the female prisoners have not been abandoned. Two researchers answered our questions. Read more

June 23, 2021

Brazil: an obstacle course for prisoners' families in the pandemic

Interview

Coronavirus South America Social ties Brazil

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’. Maria Teresa dos Santos is the chair of the Associação de Amigos e Familiares de Pessoas em Privação de Liberdade (As… Read more

June 23, 2021

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

Analysis Opinion

Coronavirus South America Overcrowding Brazil

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’. Patrick Cacicedo is a Public Defender based in São Paulo.Patrick holds a PhD from the University of São Paulo (USP),… Read more

April 1, 2021

Brazil / USA: female mass incarceration

Analysis

North America Women South America Long-term prisoners Drugs Brazil

Despite many differences at the legal, social and economic levels, Brazil and the United States have commonalities in their use of female incarceration. The Instituto Terra, Trabalho e Cidadania (Land, Labour and Citizenship Institute, ITTC) undertook a comparative investigation to identify recurre…

Source — The Instituto Terra, Trabalho e Cidadania (ITTC)

March 30, 2021

Brasil: Xuxa propuso que se prueben vacunas y medicamentos en presos “que al menos sirvan para algo”

News

Coronavirus South America Health Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

March 18, 2021

Brazil: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Brazil

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Brazilian authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives? Read more

February 2, 2021

Brazil: Covid-19 aggravating the jail crisis

News

Coronavirus South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Brazil

The number of inmates rises so fast, that the prison system can’t properly accommodate them, leading to overcrowding and violence. At this point, violence is so ingrained that riots, decapitations and gruesome scenes are becoming commonplace in Brazil’s jails. In the last four years, hundreds of pe…

Source — CGTN

January 27, 2021

Brazil: motherhood behind bars

Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Women South America Material conditions Social ties Brazil

For almost 20 years, the Instituto Terra, Trabalho e Cidadania (Land, Labour and Citizenship Institute, ITTC) has been dedicated to monitoring the condition of women who have been deprived of their freedom, mostly mothers or pregnant women. Ensured by the fundamental right to information, the Insti…

Source — Le Monde Diplomatique Brasil

September 8, 2020

Brazil: disregard for life

Interview

Coronavirus South America Health Violence Brazil

With more than 700,000 prisoners, the ailing prison system has been thrown into turmoil by the ongoing political disorder and the health crisis caused by Covid-19. What is the future for prisons in Brazil, and what are the main challenges at present? Read more

September 7, 2020

Brazil: drugs, walls and being a woman

Interview

Women Access to legal rights Drugs Brazil

Brazil’s prison population tripled in 20 years, resulting to a total of 770,000 inmates in 2,600 prisons. This is due to an increased recourse to detention. The incarceration rate of 133 in 2000 has grown to 466 in nearly two decades. The narration of women imprisonment seems to follow the same tra… Read more

July 24, 2020

Brazil : La pandemia de coronavirus sigue avanzando en las cárceles ante la desesperación de los familiares

News

Coronavirus South America Health Overcrowding Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

June 17, 2020

Brazil: COVID-19 breeds fear and calls for change

News

Coronavirus South America Health Brazil

Carolina, a Brazilian mother, hasn’t heard anything from her jailed son since March when authorities banned prison visits due to the coronavirus outbreak and she is scared. As COVID-19 deaths rise in Brazil’s violent and overcrowded jails, activists have called for tens of thousands of prisoners to…

Source — The Jakarta Post

May 6, 2020

Brazil: inmates protest suspension of visits

News

Coronavirus South America Social ties Brazil

A riot broke out Saturday at a prison in the city of Manaus in Brazil’s Amazon state, as inmates protested the suspension of all visits to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The inmates at the Puraquequara facility held prison guards hostage for more than five hours before authorities brought t…

Source — VOA

May 6, 2020

Brazil: Covid-19 massacre imminent

News

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Brazil

Open and poorly treated wounds, food waste on the cell floor, rat faeces, little ventilation, water rationing, insects everywhere. While some inmates do not even get up from their beds, such is their weak state of health, others are stuck in wheelchairs. To wash one’s body or one’s hands or clean a…

Source — LAB

March 18, 2020

Brazil: évasions en masse de détenus suite aux mesures anti-coronavirus

News

Coronavirus South America Health Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

November 8, 2019

Brazil: el Supremo anula el ingreso en prisión tras la sentencia en segunda instancia

News

South America Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

October 10, 2019

Brazil: el escándalo de torturas que Bolsonaro considera una “tontería” y Moro, “un “malentendido”

News

South America Torture Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

September 24, 2019

Brazil: Lula préfère la prison à un aménagement de peine

News

South America Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

August 4, 2019

Brazil: violencia salvaje en el infierno de las cárceles

News

South America Violence Brazil

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish