The advance of immunization of the prison population against covid-19 and the reduction in the number of cases and deaths caused by the new coronavirus motivated the Ministry of Justice and Public Security to authorize the return of face-to-face visits to Brazilian federal penitentiaries, including establishments prisons that house some of the most dangerous prisoners in Brazil, including some identified as leaders of criminal organizations.
The gradual return of visits by spouses, partners, relatives or friends of prisoners held in the five units of the Federal Penitentiary System (Brasília; Campo Grande; Catanduvas (PR); Mossoró (RN) and Porto Velho) was regulated by ordinance published in Official Diary of the Union today (31).
Signed by the director of the Federal Penitentiary System, José Renato Gomes Vaz,
It is mandatory to measure the temperature of visitors, since the health crisis resulting from the pandemic still “requires the use of measures to prevent and control risks to the health of servers, service providers, employees, authorities and prisoners”, according to the ordinance. .
Each adult visitor has the right to be accompanied by up to two children or teenagers. The face-to-face meetings will take place exclusively in the parlorwhere a glass prevents physical contact between prisoners and visitors, who communicate via intercom.
The ordinance maintains virtual visits and limits the presence of lawyers in federal establishments to four daily visits, lasting up to 30 minutes, also in the parlor.
Education and religious assistance activities for prisoners are authorized. The escorts of the custodians remain suspended, except when requested by the Justice or in cases of emergency transfers.
