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Brazilian jails in collapse: one convict is slain every two days

Saturday, January 11th 2014 - 06:45 UTC
Full article 17 comments

Brazilian report shows at least 218 inmates were killed in the country’s jails last year, an average of more than one convict slain every two days. The data was published by Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo on Thursday. Read full article

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  • Anglotino

    It is no wonder Jean Charles de Menezes ran from the police in London.

    Seems dealing with the Brazilian justice system, whether its police or prisons, can be a death sentence anyway.

    If I was Brazilian and saw police coming, I'd probably run as well.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 09:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    And, amazingly, this is a “country” that is being allowed to host major international competitions? Brazil should arrange for 10-mile diameter “security” zones around each venue into which no non-competitor is allowed. And 5-mile wide “security” channels between venues. Every team to bring their own “shoot-to-kill” protection. All intelligent people will watch on tv anyway. Who would spend up to £2,000 to get mugged, robbed, beaten up, murdered?

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 10:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • bestonlinenameever

    “Brazil purportedly has the largest prison population in the world - increasing 380% in the past 20 years.” --- Not True, and not even in the top 3

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 10:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • golfcronie

    I thought overcrowding in the UK was bad but these LATAM countries could show us a thing or two. If I were a footballer, I think I would strain a hamstring prior to the World Cup.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 11:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • macsilvinho

    Brazilian jails were always a place where a simple prisioner would learn to improve his skills tremendously. An ever increasing violence made our jails unbearable and the investment the government is doing is letting the number of prisioners diminish spontaineously. Nothing said will change this policy. This government is more interested in the proce of caviar.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 1
    “Who would spend up to £2,000 to get mugged, robbed, beaten up, murdered?”

    If you changed “murdered” to flogged with a whip or whatever, then most of the politicians in the UK actually!

    Nigeria has the solution, of sorts.

    The Oi Polloi are not allowed a judicial solution. The local chief decides on the punishment for misdemeanours. If they are guilty to the satisfaction of the local police chief of a crime considered serious such as rape, armed robbery, murder, etc. they are summarily shot usually by the police chief himself.

    Most Nigerians in a feudal area (even one supporting an oil terminal) have NOTHING of their own and see it as a reasonable risk to murder someone who has just to gain their possessions.

    I have personal experience of this in Nigeria.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    if this is the standard of Brazilian jails,
    what do argy jails look like,

    and south America calls itself civilised,

    no wonder our hotels are filling up with foreign cons...

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 06:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Jack Bauer

    Quite frankly, the death of two inmates per day, is way below what I would like to see. These criminals are of the worst kind, complete psychopaths, who should be shot dead by the police instead of cluttering the justice system with endless appeals , as well as the prisons which the taxpayer has to maintain. The bigger problem though is that about the same number of inmates that are jailed (about 500,000), are running around free, committing more crimes. I too saw Nigerian justice, firsthand : throw a couple of tyres around the criminal, douse them in gasoline and light a bonfire to celebrate justice... that's a definitive solution.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 09:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    “Brazilian report shows at least 218 inmates were killed in the country’s jails last year, an average of more than one convict slain every two days”

    Well, it's a good start isn't it.... When I see stories about the overcrowding in British prisions, I feel that they can learn a lot from Brazil in this matter.

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 10:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Jack Bauer

    only 499, 782 to go....

    Jan 11th, 2014 - 10:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Heisenbergcontext

    “ The mood & temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime & criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of the civilisation of any country.

    A calm & dispassionate recognition of the rights of the accused against the State, and even those of convicted criminals against the State, a constant heart-searching by all charged with the duty of punishment, a desire and eagerness to rehabilitate in the world of industry all those who have paid their dues in the hard coinage of punishment, tireless efforts towards the discovery of curative and regenerating processes, and an unfaltering faith that there is a treasure, if you can only find it, in the heart of every man - these are the symbols which in the treatment of crime and criminals mark and measure the stored-up strength of a nation and are the sign and proof of the living virtue in it”

    Sir Winston Churchill.

    @3 Bestonlinenameever

    You are correct, according to the B.B.C. - the U.S.A. has 2 193 798 prisoners and the highest rate of incarceration per 100 000 of population ( 724 ), followed by China, Russian and Brazil.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 06:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 11 Heisenbergcontext

    So your point is what? You agree with Winnie, or not?

    Winnie made many errors of judgement throughout his life as we all do, but (and there is always a but) he was a “Toff”, a member of the privileged class which really set him apart from mainstream society of scraping a living by working or thievery.

    His famous faux pas was his statement at the beginning of WWII that Britain “needed more horses” to fight the war. He was also a drunkard BUT he was also the man who we can still point to as the one who “saved” us from the Nazis.

    For that I will be forever grateful because I would not be here had the Nazis won.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 10:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Heisenbergcontext

    @12 ChrisR

    I wasn't making a point so much as seeking to stimulate some debate on the subject. But since you ask I do agree with Churchill in this case.

    It's likely Churchill's views were influenced by his own experience of being imprisoned. He was a journalist at the time and was captured during the Boer War. The Boer's decided to treat him as a soldier rather than a civilian. A month later he escaped. The man who captured him, ironically, was General Louis Botha who subsequently became a Prime Minister in his own right. I'm glad he chose not to shoot him, the course of 20th century would have been significantly altered.

    I agree with you about Churchill's flaws, which were plentiful. In this case I believe he was correct.

    I'd also add that in many circumstances distinguishing between criminals and the forces of law & order can be difficult. A lot of people, all over the world, are convicted of crimes they didn't commit. In modern day Russia a common tactic is to beat the crap out of the prisoner the moment they enter the prison as preparation for extorting the prisoners families ( the only reason I know this is that these wetbrains love filming themselves while issuing a beatdown ).

    There is also the issue of legal representation and money. I know for a fact that there are some defence lawyers in Adelaide whose appearance can make the blood drain from a police prosecutor's face. Some defence lawyers . on the other hand, are useless.

    There is also the question of remand - how many of the 218 prisoners referred to in this report were killed without even having had their day in court, i.e. many could've been innocent and now we'll never know...

    I'll leave it at that lest I bore anyone who reads this senseless.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @6 Bit of a stretch to get to Nigeria? Personally, I'm not sure I want to investigate the number of UK MPs that want to spend £2,000 to get mugged, robbed, beaten up, flogged with a whip or whatever.

    Nigeria is, of course, a well-known sinkhole. Should we investigate whether it would be best to dump argieland in nigeria or nigeria in argieland. Nigeria has a lot more “microbes”. How about a matter/anti-matter interaction? Dumping argieland into nigeria would probably be good for eliminating argieland. The exponential effect on nigeria could also be good. Might be enough to reduce the “population” to around 70 million. Still too many but then North Korea vs Nigeria?
    But, to get back to the article, I'm not sure I see a problem with 1 criminal being slaughtered every 2 days. In fact, I'd be inclined to criticise Brazilian criminals. What's wrong with 2 criminals per day? Work rate doesn't seem to be particularly good. How about some league tables? If you win your league you can be released. Convicted of multiple murders. Imprisoned. And the league starts again. But here's the best bit. There's more room for “new” players! Even better, as the games progress, more of the population “inside” playing the “elimination” game.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 02:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    It's better a death sentence than to live a few days in a Brazilian prison.

    Shame, shame, shame.

    Soft laws, corrupt police and hellish prisons.

    Shame, shame, shame.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 02:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 14 Conqueror

    The cowards of the Continent, the argies, would be no match for the ruling sect of Nigeria who come from the North of the country and are the biggest examples of men both in height and muscle that I have ever seen, anywhere.

    One day I may give the details as to what happened when a few locals decided to rob the engineers who ran Que Ebo terminal. It makes chilling reading.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Heisenbergcontext

    @14 Conqueror

    Conq, if they ever make a Kick Ass 3 I strongly suggest you audition. The world needs more caped crusaders and clearly you have the passion for it.

    We need you out there big fella. Do your duty.

    Jan 12th, 2014 - 05:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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