São Paulo inmates begin third temporary release of the year

Thousands of inmates in the semi-open regime in the interior of São Paulo have begun their third temporary release of the year. The period, which runs from September 15 to September 21, involves thousands of detainees across various regions of the state.

According to the Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (SAP), the highest concentrations of releases occurred in the judicial districts of Bauru, Pacaembu, and São José do Rio Preto. Bauru recorded approximately 4,000 releases, while the São José do Rio Preto region saw nearly 1,500 detainees leave prison facilities. Other areas, including Presidente Prudente, Sorocaba, and Itapetininga, also reported significant numbers of beneficiaries.

These temporary releases, often referred to as ‘saidinhas’, are regulated by the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJ-SP). To qualify, inmates must be in the semi-open regime, demonstrate good behavior, and have completed a specific fraction of their sentence—one-sixth for first-time offenders or one-fourth for repeat offenders.

Participants must adhere to strict rules, including nighttime curfews and restrictions on visiting certain locations. Failure to comply with these conditions results in a regression to the closed regime and the loss of the benefit. The fourth and final temporary release of the year is scheduled for December.