In Maranhão, UNODC discusses penitentiary management and classification of prisoners

Brasilia, 11 May 2022 - From 5-6 May 2022, representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Brazil and officials of the Prison Systems of the Federal District and of the states of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rondônia and Amazonas met at the State Secretariat for Penitentiary Administration of Maranhão (SEAP-MA) in São Luís to discuss prison management partnerships.

The event was held as part of the programme "Organized Crime in Prisons and Drug Trafficking in a Regional Perspective", implemented by UNODC Brazil.

The aim of the meeting was to promote the exchange of experiences between UNODC and professionals of the penitentiary system on the importance of proper classification of prisoners to improve prison management and the containment of organized crime internally, considering the provisions of Brazil’s Law of Criminal Enforcement, international rules and the UNODC Handbook on the Classification of Prisoners.

In the opening of the activities, the Secretary of Penitentiary Administration of Maranhão, Murilo Andrade, highlighted the importance of the classification of prisoners for better understanding the individuality of imprisoned persons and the guarantee of their better assistance, mainly regarding education and work.

For the UNODC Project Coordinator, "the classification of prisoners is a key tool for prison management, not only to enable the proper care of the needs of the population in prison, but also to contribute to the containment of the actions of organized crime. Through the Technical Dialogues, we seek to promote dialogue and exchange of experiences between the states and National Penitentiary Department (DEPEN), disseminating promising practices implemented across the country."

According to the Deputy Secretary of Penitentiary Care and Humanization of SEAP-MA, Kelly Cristina Carvalho, "it is extremely important to hold discussions like this, between the present states and DEPEN, because they contribute to the development of a standard of performance for the whole country, so that, in fact, we can move forward in our mission in the penitentiary system."

On the occasion, the representatives of UNODC, of the Prison Systems of the Federal District, of the states and DEPEN visited the Penitentiary Complex of São Luís, including the factories, schools and laundry facilities.

This was the first activity carried out under the project "Organized Crime in Prisons and Drug Trafficking in a Regional Perspective", which aims to support the adoption of innovative practices to improve prison management through an interagency approach in line with international minimum standards in Paraguay and Brazil, focusing on the challenges created by organized crime in prisons, as well as to promote cooperation to respond to drug trafficking in the Amazon region, between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.

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