Interview
Marcus Rito
President of the National Council of Secretaries of Justice, Citizenship, Human Rights and Penitentiary Administration and Secretary of Justice of Rondonia, Brazil
In this interview, we speak with Marcus Rito, Secretary of Justice for the State of Rondonia since 2020 and President of the National Council of State Secretaries of Justice, Citizenship, Human Rights, and Penitentiary Administration (CONSEJ). CONSEJ is a strategic forum that regularly brings together representatives from the Justice Secretariats of Brazilian states and the Federal Government. Its main objective is to provide a continuous space for dialogue and cooperation between federal and state authorities to discuss and improve the country’s penitentiary system.
As President of the National Council of Secretaries of Justice, what are the main problems shared by the Brazilian states, and what objectives do you consider to be the most urgent for improving the criminal justice system in Brazil?
MR: We need to acknowledge that, although the Brazilian prison system has seen positive changes over the past decade, significant challenges remain in its day-to-day management. Among these is the overcrowding of prison facilities — Brazil faces a deficit of approximately 174,000 places—and the poor
conditions in many establishments, largely a result of this overcrowding and insufficient investment over recent decades. Additionally, the presence and influence of organised crime groups pose serious threats to the safety of both people in prison and prison staff.
Another critical issue is the inadequate provision of legally mandated support services, such as assistance and healthcare, as well as the low percentage of people in prison participating in social reintegration and education programmes. Finally, the high rate of reoffending indicates that the social reintegration goals outlined in the Penal Enforcement Law have not been effectively achieved.
In light of these challenges, several urgent objectives are essential for improving Brazil’s criminal justice system. First, expanding the use of alternative sentencing is crucial to reducing the prison population by offering effective, targeted measures to manage the system’s entry points. Simultaneously, improving prison infrastructure is vital. This includes increasing resources for the National Penitentiary Fund (FUNPEN), renovating facilities to ensure basic hygiene standards, investing in security equipment, and modernising prison staff training to enhance efficiency and procedural effectiveness.
Another priority is strengthening the response to organised crime through intelligence-led security strategies aimed at reducing its influence within the prison system.
We also need to improve access to healthcare, civil documentation, and other legally guaranteed support services, ensuring that a prison sentence results only in the deprivation of liberty — not the erosion of other fundamental rights.
Rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes for people in prison must also be reinforced. Expanding access to education, vocational training, and psychological support is key. Partnerships with civil society and non-governmental organisations should be encouraged to promote projects that humanise prison experiences and provide additional support to people in prison and their families.
Finally, it is essential to develop initiatives that support individuals after their release, increasing their employability and income-generating opportunities. These objectives are fundamental to creating a more humane and effective criminal justice system.
By sharing good practices, we can learn from one another and identify solutions that have proven successful, allowing them to be replicated across different contexts, saving both time and resources.
How can co-operation and the exchange of experiences between states within CONSEJ help to tackle these issues more effectively?
MR: Co-operation and the exchange of experiences between states within CONSEJ are invaluable for addressing these challenges of the criminal justice system.
By sharing good practices, we can learn from one another and identify solutions that have proven successful, allowing them to be replicated across different contexts, saving both time and resources.
Equally important is strong political and institutional collaboration. When states work together, they have a more unified and influential voice in advocating for legislative reforms and increased investment in the criminal justice system. CONSEJ also serves as an effective platform to engage with the federal government and other institutions, lobbying for improvements and the implementation of comprehensive, inclusive policies. This collaboration strengthens the ability of states to address shared challenges in a more coordinated and impactful way.
What have been the main challenges facing the Rondonia Justice Department? What are some of the good practices or inspiring examples that Rondonia has adopted to face the challenges of the prison system?
MR: In the early 2000s, Rondonia’s prison system experienced its most critical period. A series of rebellions, deaths of people in custody during incidents of disorder, and widespread chaos caused by overcrowding, poor management, and minimal investment led to the state being placed under the intervention of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. During the 2010s, Rondonia began to take initial steps — albeit timidly — towards improvement, in partnership with the federal government. This
involved enhancing infrastructure and strengthening management capacity, helping the state move beyond its most challenging phase and aligning more closely with the national average in terms of prison system quality.
In the 2020s, with growing awareness within the state government of the importance of a well-managed, humane, and controlled prison system, significant resources have been invested to address key issues. These include tackling the shortage of prison places, addressing poor infrastructure, shifting
harmful institutional cultures, and improving public perceptions of the prison system.
The main objectives of these improvements to the prison infrastructure have been to reduce overcrowding, enhance health and safety conditions, and ensure better living environments for people deprived of their liberty, as well as improved working conditions for prison staff. This has been
achieved through the renovation, expansion, and upgrading of facilities, including canteens and accommodation. Modernisation efforts have also involved constructing new pavilions and spaces
for vocational training, workshops, and educational activities for people in prison, alongside expanding training facilities for staff and creating a dedicated Staff Support Centre.
Good practices include inter-institutional partnerships with state and municipal bodies to create employment opportunities for people serving sentences. These initiatives have resulted in a
high rate of employment under such agreements, positioning Rondonia as the leading state in Brazil in terms of the percentage of people in prison engaged in work, reaching 69% for two consecutive reporting cycles.
Another notable achievement has been the significant increase in ongoing professional development for prison staff. This has broadened their knowledge in operational management and human-centred approaches, fostering a more rehabilitative approach to sentence management.
Additionally, the expansion of technology has played an important role — not only through enhanced security measures such as baggage x-ray scanners, body scanners, and security gantries, but also through improvements in electronic monitoring tools and information management systems. A key example is the development and implementation of the Penitentiary Information System (SIPE), which has streamlined data management and improved operational efficiency.
Could you talk a little about how the participation of people
in the process of re-socialisation contributes to the economic model that makes these investments possible and how this is integrated into the overall rehabilitation strategy?
MR: The social reintegration processes implemented in the state of Rondonia follow the national guidelines established by the National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN). Their primary focus is the promotion of citizenship through a range of actions, including the assessment of individuals, the provision of support services, assistance in obtaining civil documentation, and the inclusion of people in custody within existing public policies. Above all, the emphasis is on integration through meaningful work.
Successful strategies in Rondonia include the establishment of vocational workshops, the delivery of training courses through partnerships, and the creation of the Talent Bank—a system that registers people serving sentences based on their professional skills and qualifications.
MR: In addition, the state has signed more than 50 agreements for the employment of people in prison, with the income generated from this work contributing directly to the State Penitentiary Fund.
The funds generated through these social reintegration activities are reinvested into initiatives that promote citizenship, such as purchasing supplies and equipment for educational and vocational programmes, as well as supporting broader infrastructure improvements. In this way, the more people who are engaged in meaningful work, the greater the resources available to invest in social reintegration efforts. This creates a sustainable cycle where rehabilitation not only supports the individual’s development but also contributes to the financial sustainability of programmes designed to promote long-term social inclusion and reduce reoffending.
What other areas are priorities for the development of the
prison system in Rondonia? What objectives do you hope to achieve in the coming years?
MR: In the coming years, there remains an urgent need for structural investment in prison facilities. However, the priority must be to reduce prison overcrowding, with a focus on the effective operation of Penal Alternatives Centres across the state. These centres play a key role in managing the “gateway” to the prison system by providing alternative sentencing options that help to decrease reliance on incarceration.
Another important area is the expansion of services assisting individuals in obtaining civil documentation and connecting with a psychosocial support network. Additionally, the establishment
of a Social Office is essential to provide direct support to individuals both before and during their time in the prison system. To enhance the security and management of prison facilities, it is crucial to invest in increasing staff numbers, expanding closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, installing x-ray equipment, and implementing the use of body cameras by prison officers. These measures are aimed at ensuring the safety and integrity of staff, preventing misconduct, protecting against false accusations, and supporting the maintenance of order and conflict management within facilities.
The future of the prison system in Rondonia — and in Brazil as a whole — relies not only on adequate investment but also on the commitment of prison system leaders to fostering the understanding that there can be no effective public security without an efficient, well-organised, and humane prison system.
Marcus Rito
President of the National Council of Secretaries of Justice, Citizenship, Human Rights and Penitentiary Administration and Secretary of Justice of Rondonia, Brazil
Marcus Rito has served as the Secretary of Justice for the State of Rondonia since 2020 and currently presides the National Council of State Secretaries of Justice, Citizenship, Human Rights, and Penitentiary Administration (CONSEJ). Between 2004 and 2019, he was a member of the National Penitentiary Department, where he served as Coordinator of Prison Labour and Health and as General Coordinator of Penal Alternatives. He has lectured in civil service training courses and at the Federal
University of Piauí. Additionally, he coordinated biometrics and civil documentation initiatives at the National Council of Justice and was a member of the Penal Policy Management Laboratory at the University of Brasília. Marcus Rito currently serves as a National Councillor for Criminal and Penitentiary Policy at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (CNPCP/MJSP). He holds a law degree and specialises in public law.
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