Brazil Has Over 773,000 Prisoners, Most Under Full-time Confinement

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil has over 773,000 prisoners in prison facilities and in police stations. The figures, relating to June 2019, were released yesterday, February 14th, by the National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), a body linked to the Ministry of Justice and Public Safety.

The number of prisoners housed in correctional facilities totals 758,676, with most (348,371 or 45.92 percent) under full-time confinement. The data show a growth of 3.89 percent in this population compared to 2018.

Pre-trial detainees – who have not yet been convicted – represent the second largest contingent, with 253,963, corresponding to 33.47 percent of the total. There are 126,146 prisoners in the work release regime, (16.63 percent), and 27,069 in house arrest or similar regime, representing 3.57 percent of the total. There are 3,127 detainees under security measures or in outpatient treatment.

The numbers also show that there are 312,125 places lacking in Brazil’s prison facilities and 461,026 places available.

The majority of prisoners are male, representing over 90 percent of the total. Women represent little more than eight percent.

The data also shows that there was an increase in the number of imprisoned women, in comparison with 2018. In 2019, there were 37,800 female prisoners, compared with 36,400 in 2018. The result breaks the downward trend in women’s incarceration, which had been recorded since 2016.

The majority of prisoners, 39.42 percent, are linked to drug-related crimes, such as drug trafficking. Then come prisoners for crimes against property who account for 36.74 percent of all crimes. Crimes against the individual total 11.38 percent and crimes against sexual dignity represent 4.3 percent.

Vacancies

While introducing the figures, Fabiano Bordignon, DEPEN’s director-general, said the government is working to reduce the vacancy deficit in prisons. According to Bordignon, the estimate is that 20,000 places will be created this year. The forecast is for a total of 100,000 by 2022.

“We don’t have many prisoners in Brazil, in fact we have few places. The problem is not how many inmates you have, but rather what you do with the inmates you have. Work is needed,” Bordigon said.

According to the director, in addition to creating places, it is also a government priority to invest in projects focused on professional training of inmates and preparation after they have served their sentence.

“Work is a possibility, a tool for taking control [for inmates],” Bordigon said, for whom there should be special attention to progression in the prison system. “Sometimes when you invest R$50 per released inmate he doesn’t come back to a prison unit and we’re going to have one more place,” he added.

Bordingon said the number of pre-trial detainees in the country is not large compared to the total population. According to the director, in relative numbers, Brazil ranks 24th among the countries with the highest number of pre-trial detainees.

“The United States and Cuba are ahead of us, with as many as 550 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants,” he said.