Brazil considers satellite jails

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In a bid to reduce chronic prison overcrowding, Brazil is considering a novel alternative: satellite technology.

Legislators are contemplating approving the use of satellites to monitor the movements of persons convicted of minor, non-violent crimes, Brazilian media reports. That way, offenders deemed non-threatening wouldn’t have to be locked up. Instead, eligible violators would be outfitted with wrist or ankle bracelets equipped with communication devices linked to satellites. Authorities could then monitor their movements.

The idea is to reserve prison space for violent offenders.

“The costs are less than maintaining a prisoner in a jail unnecessarily,” said Sent. Demóstenes Torres.

Brazilian jails are notoriously overcrowded and have become bases for gang leaders who send out orders to subordinates in the field. Violence by a prison-based gang virtually shut down the city of São Paulo for a day last year.

Posted by Patrick J. McDonnell and Andrés D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires