The Anticrime Law, aimed at combating organized crime, has been approved by the Brazilian Congress, introducing specific new crimes to tackle criminal factions.
On October 24, 2023, the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the Anticrime Law, also known as the Legal Framework for Combating Organized Crime. This legislation, championed by the Lula administration and reported by Deputy Guilherme Derrite (PP-SP), discards most of the amendments proposed by the Senate and establishes autonomous types of criminal offenses. Among these are the crimes of 'structured social domination' and 'favoring structured social domination,' which are designed specifically to counteract the territorial control exerted by organized criminal factions.
The law characterizes ultra-violent criminal organizations, known as criminal factions, as groups of three or more individuals who use violence, severe threats, or coercion to impose territorial or social control, intimidate populations or authorities, or attack essential services and infrastructure. This new classification aims to provide law enforcement with more precise tools to dismantle these criminal networks, underlining the government's commitment to combating organized crime and enhancing public safety in Brazil.
The passage of this law is significant as it reflects a broader strategy by the Lula government to address the challenges posed by organized crime in Brazil. By creating specific legal definitions and penalties for these new crimes, the law is expected to allow for more effective prosecutions and may deter individuals from engaging in such activities. However, the success of this legislation will heavily depend on its implementation and the cooperation of various branches of the government and law enforcement agencies.
