Brazil's prisons generate income, say pastoral workers
The prison ministry started 50 years ago sees money as one of the driving forces in the prison system today
Inmates working in the manufacture of face masks to be used as a preventive measure against the spread of the new coronavirus in Tremembe, Brazil, on March 26, 2020. (Photo: AFP)
By Eduardo Campos Lima, Catholic News Service
Published: September 28, 2022 05:10 AM GMT
In Brazil, like most countries, prison ministry involves visiting and praying with inmates, but as Brazil's prisons increasingly are treated as moneymakers, the ministry also means advocating for the rights of prisoners.
People who work in the Brazilian bishops' prison ministry can tell of the problems: lack of running water during most of the day, poor hygiene, overcrowding, insufficient and low-quality food, and disrespect for basic human needs, including access to health care services.
The bishops started the prison ministry 50 years ago, and German-born Sister Petra Pfaller, a member of the Missionaries of Christ who heads the program, sees money as one of the driving forces in Brazil's prison system today.
"The Brazilian law offers many ways for a defendant to wait for trial out of custody. People with money can hire attorneys and manage to stay out of prison. The poor cannot do that," she said. "The Brazilian state has opted for a highly repressive policy when it comes to conflict resolution," she added. "And it targets poor, Black young residents of slums."
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https://www.ucanews.com/news/brazils-prisons-generate-income-say-pastoral-workers/98911