Goiás records historic low in violent deaths and sharp rise in inmate labor participation
In 2025 the Brazilian state of Goiás posted its lowest ever rate of intentional violent deaths, at 16.5 per 100 000 inhabitants, down 12.7 % from the previous year and 59.5 % below the 2012 level. The total number of victims fell to 1,222, a reduction of 11.8 % from 2024. Homicides dolosos also dropped, with 813 cases recorded in 2025, a 15.2 % decline.
The same year saw a major decline in cellphone‑related crime. The robbery rate fell 29.8 % to 57.9 incidents per 100 000 people, while combined robberies and thefts of phones totaled 16,344 incidents, 3,784 fewer than in 2024.
Prison labour participation surged as well. The number of inmates engaged in work rose 61.4 % to 6,184 in the second half of 2025, lifting the share of the prison population in work from 12.7 % to 20.7 %. Work opportunities were available in 79 of the state’s 81 penitentiaries (97.5 %).
Entities: Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026 · Brazilian Public Security Yearbook 2026 · DGPP Goiás (Diretoria Geral de Polícia Penitenciária) · Goiás (Brazilian state) · Goiás (state) · Inmate labour programmes · Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The cellphone robbery rate in Goiás fell 29.8 % in 2025, from 82.4 to 57.9 incidents per 100 000 inhabitants. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The total number of intentional violent deaths in Goiás in 2025 was 1,222 victims. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Homicides dolosos in Goiás decreased from 959 in 2024 to 813 in 2025, a 15.2 % decline. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Combined robberies and thefts of cellphones in Goiás totaled 16,344 in 2025, 3,784 fewer than in 2024. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Inmates working in Goiás prisons rose 61.4 % to 6,184 in the second half of 2025, representing 20.7 % of the prison population. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Goiás' intentional violent death rate fell 12.7 % from 2024, dropping from 18.9 to 16.5 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Work opportunities for inmates existed in 79 of Goiás' 81 penitentiary establishments in 2025, i.e., 97.5 % of facilities. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Goiás recorded 16.5 intentional violent deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, the lowest rate since the series began in 2012. (Anuário Brasileiro de Segurança Pública 2026)