A person arrested for not paying a fine ends up harming the state more than if the fine is paying. This is a problem that the Assembly of the Republic does not seem to be in a hurry to solve (while the “violates the law”).
Until the 20th of this month, there was, in Portugal, 36 people arrested for not paying fines.
The values that led to prison, in these cases, range from 300 to almost 3,000 euros; and the condemned, in turn, fulfill penalties between the 36 and 186 days in jail.
Ora, Such a scenario ends up harming the state morein monetary terms, than if the visits did not pay the fines.
Speaking to, the director of the Vincentian work to assist in prisoner, Manuel ALMEIDA SANTOSsaid that, for many convicts, really pays off that the judge converts him the penalty to a fine.
Only It does not pay for the state (or taxpayers).
“I personally know the case of a sentenced person to 45 days in prison for not having paid a fine of 400 euros. Each prisoner costs an average of 60 euros per day. 45 days give 2,700 euros for a fine of 400 euros“He said.
In this case, the State ends up paying almost 7 times plus the value of the fine.
Also to TSF, the Directorate-General for Reinsertion and Prison Services (DGRSP) clarifies that most of these citizens “do not meet the time of deprivation of liberty ”indicated by the judge.
However, Almeida Santos warns that it is not always like this. For lack of means, Some prefer to get stuck until the last day: “The overwhelming majority of these prisoners, only is a sentence for not having money.”
The leader Vincentian work to assist in prisoners said that political power should pay attention to these cases, appealing to a change. In the summer of last year, the structure it directs presented in the Assembly of the Republic a petition In the same sense. But even see, without effect.
By law, as TSF says, the petitions have to be scheduled in 30 daysafter being delivered to the President of the Assembly of the Republic.
“Assembly of the Republic violates the law”
“A prisoner meets a deprivation of liberty for violating a law; The Assembly of the Republic violates a law made by it, it is drawn attention to this violation, admits that it is violating the law, and remains impossible and serene in violation of the law“Almeida Santos denounced.
Second DGRSP, on January 20, 2025, were in the prison system 36 inmatesin compliance with a deprivation of liberty, for unique reason for not having paid fines.
These are cases of people condemned by various types of crimes, especially repeat offenders in: “threat, disobedience, injury, damage and driving in a state of drunkenness or under the influence of narcotics or psychotropic substances”.
