Brasília, May 14, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Brazilian prison system is currently operating with an estimated shortage of 110 thousand places. According to the director of the National Penitentiary Department (Depen), Clayton Nunes, in May and June state governments will receive a questionnaire containing 520 items to make a detailed diagnosis of the present situation.

According to Nunes, there are currently 308 thousand prison inmates in Brazil. Each prisoner costs the system around US$ 323 (R$ 1,000.00) each month. Nunes said that only 10% serve alternative sentences and the goal is to double this number, as a way to alleviate the problems of the prison system. "For around US$ 19.38 (R$ 60.00), an alternative sentence is much less expensive than imprisonment," he declared.

A report released yesterday (13) by the Global Justice Center on "Human Rights in Brazil in 2003" shows that the prison population keeps growing. It grew 84% between 1995 and 2003. According to the report, prison ends up being a place of punishment and exclusion. The data indicate that nearly half the inmates are under 30, poor, and have little schooling. 10.4% are illiterate.

Translator: David Silberstein