Conviction results from action by the Public Defender’s Office regarding violence by prison officers in Presidente Prudente; amount goes to state fund
The São Paulo court ordered the State of São Paulo to pay R$258 million for collective moral damages related to acts of torture against inmates in the Semi-Open Annex of the Presidente Prudente Penitentiary, in the interior of São Paulo. The events occurred on September 28, 2015.
The decision was handed down by judge Tainá Passamani Correa, from the 1st Public Finance Court, in response to the request of the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office.
The conviction refers to a search operation carried out by agents from the GIR (Rapid Intervention Group), linked to the São Paulo Penitentiary Administration Secretariat. Approximately 240 prisoners were searched under physical and psychological violence over the course of 2 and a half hours, according to the complaint taken to the UN (United Nations).
In the lawsuit, the judge states that state agents went beyond the legitimate use of force. The process is being processed under judicial secrecy.
The complaint was taken to the UN Committee Against Torture in 2023 by the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office and the non-governmental organization Conectas Human Rights. This was the first Brazilian case admitted by the UN Committee.
The compensation amount will be allocated to the FID (State Fund for the Defense of Diffuse Interests). The fund finances collective public policies.
The State Attorney General’s Office informed the Brazil Agency who has not yet been notified of the decision. The Specialized Center for Prison Situations, of the Public Defender’s Office, confirmed that it was the author of the action.
This text was originally by Agência Brasil, on April 24, 2026. The content is free for republication, citing the source, and was adapted to the standard of Poder360.
