An unprecedented survey carried out by the Justice and Public Security Ministry and disclosed by Folha de SP showed that the two largest factions in the country have been operating in the prison systems of 24 states and the Federal District and that there are now 70 active gangs in the country’s prisons. Among them all, the two major groups are growing fast, but in 2022, the Red Command (CV) had a stronger expansion. Data also indicated that under bad living conditions, prisoners tend to join the gangs for protection and even to have access to essential things, like sunbaths and medical treatment, which is sometimes controlled by the criminal groups.
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Growth
The contamination of the Brazilian penitentiary system by criminal factions has grown and they are now present in all units of the federation. The First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command (CV), born in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro respectively, stand out among these gangs. According to the survey, the CV is present in prisons in 21 units of the federation, six more than in the previous year. The PCC is at 23, two more than in 2022.
Growth of the Red Command (CV)
CV had significant growth following its expansion to the North and Northeast of Brazil. This process began in the south of Bahia until reaching Salvador, where it established an alliance with the Peace Command (Comando da Paz) faction. In the North, the CV took control of drug trafficking in Amazonas after the dismantling of the Northern Family (Família do Norte) faction, which used to dominate the state.
Operations Inside and Outside the Prison System
Incidents from 2023 show how the criminal groups operate inside and outside the prison system. In June, employees of the Amazonas prison system were threatened with death by members of the CV. The inmates affiliated to the CV refused to return to their cells. In addition, R$50,000 was offered for the death of one of the employees. The conflict took to the streets of Manaus, and a prison guard was attacked on the streets. On July, a member of the PCC was murdered in the Compensa neighborhood. These cases show CV’s power in the dispute over Amazonian territory and how the dynamics involves the prison system.
Number of Factions Inside the Prison System
The size of CV, the PCC and other factions was mapped by National Secretariat for Penal Policies (Senappen) based on data from the National Penitentiary Intelligence Network. Senappen reveals the existence of 70 criminal factions operating in the prisons.
Reach and Power
Of the 70 factions active in the prison system, only CV and the PCC have national reach. Another 13 have regional operations, while 55 have influence restricted to the local level.Authorities also mapped the power of factions. Of the total, 21 are considered high impact, according to a calculation that considers the performance of lawyers, financial strength, hierarchical structure, number of allies and also enemies in the prison system.
Analysis:
According to experts, there is lack of control of public power over the prisons, which strengthens organized crime. The system in unbale to isolate leaders – who, even in prison, command crimes on the streets – and offer prisons in terrible conditions, propelling inmates’ recruitment by the factions.
Prisoners seek the gangs’ protection, resources, access to some benefits and often access to basic services, like medical assistance and sunbaths. Around 17 thousand people have died in Brazilian prisons in the last ten years. The high number of deaths and their causes amplify knowledge about the poor conditions in prisons. Many have died from gastric or prostate cancer and pneumonia, which according to authorities, are treatable and preventable. However, the existence of unsanitary conditions, low quality of food and lack of access to drinking water and medical care maintains the problem.
Another factor are the overcrowded prisons. In the country, there is a deficit of more than 162,000 places in state prisons, which hold 644,000 prisoners. The seventh country in terms of number of inhabitants, Brazil has the 3rd largest prison population in the world. Due to that, there is no structure for separating inmates, which end up having contact with the factions.
Thus, the criminal groups emerged with demands for improvements in prison conditions. Over time, they became stronger due to their illegal activities, especially drug trafficking. This was accompanied by territorial disputes, which has deep impacts on the lives of the population and public safety.
Today, prisoners affiliated to gangs use waves of widespread violence to pressure authorities to meet their demands, frequently connected to restrictions inside the prisons, or to the transference of an important leader to a more isolated federal prison. For instance, in the first half of 2023, a series of attacks on buildings and buses hit 14 cities in Rio Grande do Norte was coordinated by the Crime Syndicate faction. The objective was to guarantee fans in the cells and food provided by the family, which had been vetoed by prosecutors.
