Brazil prison system imposes heavy financial burdens on families and vulnerable populations

Recent studies in Brazil highlight the severe economic and social burdens placed on families and vulnerable populations within the prison system. A report by the Pastoral Carcerária Nacional, linked to the CNBB, reveals that families of incarcerated individuals spend an estimated R$ 4.3 billion annually to maintain contact. These costs, which include transportation, food, lodging, and hygiene supplies, can exceed R$ 1,000 per month per family. The study notes that only 2.47% of eligible families receive the 'auxílio-reclusão' benefit, effectively shifting state costs onto vulnerable households.

Simultaneously, research by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and PUC-SP indicates that the inability to pay criminal fines is prolonging the imprisonment of homeless individuals. The study found that for crimes such as disobedience, the average prison time reaches six and a half years, despite a maximum legal sentence of six months. The report suggests that penal measures like electronic monitoring and fines are often incompatible with the reality of extreme social vulnerability, leading to 'impossible punishments.' Data also suggests significant underreporting of homeless individuals within the official prison registry.