How drug “decriminalization” fueled Brazil’s mass incarceration crisis

The partial decriminalization policy implemented under Lula’s first administration in 2006 was a disaster
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Thursday, March 23, 2023

brazil prison populationAt first glance, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s cabinet looks very different from that of predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. It comprises many scientists and other experts in their respective fields, where the previous administration favored military and neoliberal ideologues. Minister of Human Rights Silvio de Almeida is among those who say they support a public health approach to drug use rather than a carceral one. But time and again, we see lip service performed by officials we call “progressive,” while we wait for their actions to match their words.