- Sofia Ferreira Santos & Leonardo Rocha
- BBC news
image source, Disc Denuncia RJ
David de Carvalho (left) never returned after leaving to celebrate Brazil’s National Children’s Day last October. Saulo Cristiano Oliveira Díaz (centre) and Paulo Sérgio Gómez da Silva (right) are among the players who were unable to return in December after the Christmas break.
Police in Rio de Janeiro are searching for more than 250 prisoners who were allowed to spend Christmas with their families but did not return to prison.
The prisoners were released on Christmas Eve and were scheduled to return by 10pm local time on December 30th.
Most of the 1,785 inmates given leave returned to prison, but more than 250 did not.
Those who fail to report will be considered fugitives.
Local media reports that at least two notorious gang leaders are among the fugitives.
Brazilian law allows some prisoners to spend the most important holidays at home.
To qualify for furlough, an inmate must demonstrate good behavior, meet certain criteria and have their application approved by a judge.
These criteria include being in a prison operating a “semi-open regime” where inmates are allowed to work outside the prison during the day and are only required to return to their cells in the evening.
To apply, first-time offenders must have served one-sixth of their sentence, and repeat offenders must have served one-quarter of their sentence.
Current rules allowing this type of temporary release for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and other holidays are controversial because it is not uncommon for prisoners to disappear permanently.
According to the Rio de Janeiro State Prison, in 2022, 43% of those granted leave did not return to prison.
Brazil’s Congress is under pressure to pass new legislation that would strengthen current rules allowing prisoners to stay at home.