This Friday, the Minister of Justice expressed her intention to support projects aimed at the inclusion of prisoners and their future reintegration into society and the labor market.
Catarina Sarmento e Castro spoke at the end of her visit to Ceramica in the Prison (EP) in Caxias, where she was able to follow the work carried out there and establish contact with the prisoners who are engaged in this activity, on a trip which was attended by the Director of the Reintegration Service and Penitentiaries (DGRSP) Rui Abruños Gonçalves and the main persons responsible for this chain.
At the end of the visit, during which she spoke to a group of prisoners involved in the Pottery project developed by Reshape, IPSS, which works in the prison sector to guarantee the full reintegration of all people who are or have been in prison, according to the Minister, give “very a positive assessment” of a trip to the northern stronghold of EP Caxias, where “special work is being done to include” these people deprived of their liberty.
“We really want to support this type of project. For the first time there is a CEO of DGRSP who deals with social reintegration. That’s why we want to invest in this area and cherish these projects and not just stay [dos reclusos]but above all looking to the future of these people,” he stressed.
With regard to the Caxias Prison, which according to information provided to Luz by the prison authorities, is experiencing a period of overcrowding, helped by an increase in the number of inmates accused of domestic violence, the Minister mentioned that there are “planned and planned” expansions and beautification works included in the project, which includes the closing of the EP in Lisbon.
In this regard, he added that while work on the Caxias EP has yet to be released, the money “already exists” for the purpose.
Talking to prisoners doing various pottery work, Catarina Sarmento e Castro reminded that protocols have already been signed on the commissioning of a teleconsultation system in this and other prisons, as well as on the installation of telephones in cells, which allow prisoners to be closer to their families.
According to the minister, after the pilot experience, about 800 telephones have already been installed in the cells, and there is an idea to extend this measure to the entire penitentiary system.
Asked about the talks between her ministry and the prison guards unions, who intend to meet a number of demands, Catarina Sarmento i Castro assured that these professionals are “not forgotten at all”, noting that there has already been an improvement in remuneration, which has allowed for the lower levels of prison guards to increase at 122 euros per month, it is estimated that this cost could reach 333 euros in 2026.
“They are not all forgotten. We certainly want to appreciate them,” the minister noted, acknowledging, however, that when she took office, the Judicial Police (SP) was a priority because that was when the “most critical” situation was identified. .
“The situation in the SP could not continue and this was our priority,” the minister acknowledged, saying that by 2026, 1,200 people will join this police force, divided into the areas of investigation, expertise and security.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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