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Acre’s prison system registered in 2024 one of the highest levels of labor occupation among prisoners in the country, with 67% of the prison population in physical cells performing some kind of work. The number exceeds the national average, which reached 25.4%, according to data from the National Secretariat of Criminal Policies (Senappen), linked to the Ministry of Justice.
The data puts Acre above the national average/Photo: Ascom/TJAC
The Acre index is among the highest in Brazil, alongside states such as Maranhão (80%), Rondônia (70%), Sergipe (54%) and Ceará (53%). The national average, although record, is still far from the target provided for in the National Pena Pena Pena, which aims to reach 50% of prisoners working by 2027, according to the Supreme Court (STF) decision.
Coordinated by Senappen in partnership with the National Council of Justice (CNJ), the plan provides measures to expand access to work in prisons, with actions such as direct acquisition of machinery for workshops and productive projects in various areas. The proposal seeks to reduce criminal recurrence and favor the social reintegration of detainees.
The criminal execution law allows the prisoner to redeem the penalty through work, every three days worked, one day is deducted from the sentence. In addition, inmates receive at least three rooms from the minimum wage and have access to social security benefits, such as retirement and reclusion allowance.
Despite advances in Acre and other northern and northeastern states, the national scenario still has disparities. While Maranhão restructured its prison system to prioritize work and reached 80% of occupied prisoners, states such as Rio Grande do Norte and Rio de Janeiro registered 6% and 3%, respectively, in the initial survey. After publication of the data, Rio updated the number to 15.5%.
In Acre, occupation programs include internal and external activities, focusing on training and providing services to the public power and society. The high rate of active prisoners is the result of investments in infrastructure and partnerships with public and private institutions.
Senappen Penitentiary Policies Director Sandro Abel Barradas states that the Pena Pena Pena Pena should further boost the creation of job openings in the prison system. “This policy is no longer optional and becomes a national obligation. We are delivering machinery and inputs directly to states to accelerate implementation,” he said.
In addition to work, the plan foresees complementary actions in education and health, aiming to make prisons spaces of resocialization and not just confinement. For experts and managers, the internal reorganization of units is essential to ensure discipline and security, which allows the operation of reintegration programs.
With 670,265 prisoners in physical cells in the country, only 170,415 currently perform some work activity. Of the total work inmates, 158,211 are men and 12,204 are women. Data do not include people in house arrest or under electronic monitoring.
