Brazil Minister Proposes Tougher Laws to Combat Deadly Crime Wave

By Ricardo Brito and Gabriel Stargardter

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – The new right-wing government in Brazil has unveiled a proposal aimed at combating rampant crime, characterized by stricter sentencing and actions against political corruption and organized crime. This initiative comes as Brazil grapples with the highest murder rate in the world.

Justice Minister Sergio Moro, previously known for his role in jailing numerous members of Brazil’s business and political elite during the “Operation Car Wash” investigation, announced that he will soon present proposed changes to 14 laws to Congress.

These measures form part of the first significant anti-crime strategy of President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, which gained traction last year by promising to address longstanding corruption and escalating violent crime.

Moro explained at a press conference, following discussions with state governors and their public security secretaries, that his focus on addressing corruption, organized crime, and violent crime is interrelated. He emphasized that Bolsonaro is fully supportive of these initiatives and aims to reduce the impunity surrounding both violent crimes committed by criminal gangs and acts of corruption.

A key element of Moro’s proposal is to mandate that convicts be incarcerated after their conviction is upheld on first appeal. This change seeks to eliminate the de facto impunity enjoyed by the affluent and influential, who have previously remained free while their appeals were processed.

In 2016, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that convicts could be imprisoned following a first appeal, but it is set to reexamine that ruling in April and could potentially reverse it. Some justices contend that what was intended as an option has effectively become obligatory.

If Congress passes a law, it may remove the issue from the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction.

The success of Moro’s proposals in Congress remains uncertain, as around one-third of lawmakers are under some form of criminal investigation, with several entangled in corruption probes. Bolsonaro does not have a formal coalition; instead, he relies on support from various sectors, including agriculture, evangelicals, and public security. Moro expressed his willingness to engage with lawmakers, hear their concerns, and seek consensus on the legislation.

Among the proposals are tougher prison sentences for habitual offenders and a requirement that leaders of violent gangs serve their sentences in high-security facilities. Moro also aims to formalize plea bargains, redefine what constitutes a criminal gang, and introduce whistleblower protections.