Rio de Janeiro legislature approves statewide elderly protection patrol

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) has approved Bill 1.764/23, which seeks to expand the ‘Patrulha da Pessoa Idosa’ (Elderly Patrol) program throughout the entire state. Authored by State Deputy Munir Neto, the initiative originated from a successful model implemented in Volta Redonda.

The program is designed to support elderly victims of violence who are under judicial protective measures. Under the proposed law, Military Police teams would conduct periodic visits—at least once a month—to ensure judicial orders are being followed and to assess the victim's safety. The frequency of these visits may increase depending on the severity of the case.

The project promotes integrated action between various security forces and justice system bodies, including the Civil Police, the Court of Justice, the Public Ministry, and the Public Defender's Office. It also includes provisions for specialized training for officers to ensure humanized service and assistance to victims in risk situations. The bill now awaits sanction or veto from the State Government within 15 business days.