Africa-Press – Cape verde. The electronic bracelet was presented this Tuesday, in Praia, as a remote control device that will reduce the “overcrowding” of prisons, with advantages also at an economic level. It is expected to be operational in early 2023.
João Delgado, director general of prison services and social reintegration, spoke to the press on the sidelines of the presentation of the electronic bracelet, which, according to him, has “evolved with great efficiency and security”, as an alternative to incarceration in the prison system within the scope of criminal justice. , whose implementation is scheduled for early 2023.
“It will allow the release of prisons that, as we know, our prisons have been overcrowded for a long time, and it also brings advantages in economic terms. The bracelet will allow the convict to be applied to him at the expense of an effective sentence within the prison, an exception that allows him to work and be with his family”, explained João Delgado.
Application early next year
According to this official, work is already underway on its implementation, and it is now dependent on the legal basis, but he assured that everything indicates that, at the beginning of next year, the electronic bracelet will be fully operational in Cape Verde.
As the general director explained, this bracelet offers all the guarantee of security of the location of convicts, and will have two control centers, one in São Vicente and another in Praia.
“It gives every guarantee in terms of the effects of penalties, effects of convictions, general prevention, special prevention, however, we cannot generalize because this will not apply to every crime (…)”, he clarified.
Its implementation, the same source also informed, will begin in one of the smallest counties in the country, selected at random, to co-study some “need” that may naturally come from this implementation, but is not yet defined.
Gains for the prison system
For her part, the Minister of Justice, Joana Rosa, stressed that the electronic bracelet presented here will bring numerous gains to the prison system, mainly by solving the problem of overcrowding in prisons, as well as reducing costs.
The reason for the implementation of electronic bracelets in Cape Verde is, according to the official, the increase in crime in recent times, with a direct impact on the increase in the prison population.
All this, he added, entails not only expenses for the State, but also the entire process of social reintegration, investments in physical infrastructure, all investment must be made from the point of view of security in chains, recruitment of human resources social technicians and prison security agents.
Alternative to the courts
All these costs, stated Joana Rosa, justify, in a way, giving this alternative to the courts so that they can carry out remote control of convicts and also of inmates serving alternative sentences or subject to other coercive measures.
“Therefore, for the prison system it will be a gain from the point of view of what the costs are”, said Joana Rosa, stressing that a “new challenge” is being proposed for the prison system.
In the coming days, informed the Minister of Justice, the prison information system will be launched, which will help not only the Ministry of Justice, but also the courts in the management of inmates, serving their sentences and the time spent in prison. stay in jail.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
