The National Council of Justice and the COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the prison and juvenile justice systems

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the actions developed by the Department of Monitoring and Inspection of the National Council of Justice - DMF/CNJ aimed at the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic in the penitentiary and juvenile justice systems in the Brazilian federative units. The evolution of the provisions adopted on the holding of the custody hearing is also analyzed. To that end, the documentary review of the main regulatory diplomas was adopted, namely the Recommendations and Resolutions of the National Council of Justice (CNJ) and the reports produced under the Doing Justice Program, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program and the National Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Justice. It is concluded that, despite all the challenges presented by the pandemic coronavirus in Brazil, the CNJ acted quickly to support courts and magistrates in the adoption of measures against Covid-19 in the scope of the prison and juvenile justice systems as from Recommendation 62/2020. The CNJ has developed monitoring committees and contingency plans, has followed regulations and paid special attention to issues relating to the modification of regimes, holding hearings, visiting and delivery rules for family members and the functioning of services such as the Integrated Central for Criminal Alternatives, Electronic Surveillance Centers and Attendance Service for Former Inmates.