Brazilian lawmakers propose stricter criminal justice and security reforms

Brazilian legislators and political candidates are proposing significant reforms to the country's public security and criminal justice systems.

Federal Deputy Da Vitória has introduced several legislative projects aimed at reducing impunity. These include PL 4048/2025, which seeks to maintain preventive detention for individuals accused of heinous crimes or those involving violence and serious threats, such as homicide, rape, and kidnapping. His proposals also include ensuring full sentence fulfillment for violent criminals, limiting prisoner assistance benefits, and establishing a mandatory minimum percentage of federal investment in public security within the Constitution.

In a separate discussion, Senate candidate Guilherme Derrite advocated for the implementation of life imprisonment in Brazil for specific crimes, including qualified homicide, rape, and robbery resulting in death. Derrite noted that such a change would require a constitutional amendment and acknowledged potential legal challenges from the Supreme Federal Court. He suggested that recent legislative movements, such as the Public Security PEC approved by the Chamber of Deputies, may pave the way for stricter sentencing and longer periods of incarceration in closed regimes.