The Alcaçuz State Penitentiary, located in Nísia Floresta near Natal, Brazil, received a technical visit from penitentiary secretaries from around the country on Friday. The purpose of this visit was to highlight the factories operating within the facility and to discuss its model for inmate rehabilitation. This gathering coincided with the 17th Ordinary Meeting of the National Council of State Secretaries for Justice, Citizenship, Human Rights, and Penitentiary Administration (Consej), which was held in the capital, Natal.

Alcaçuz provides its inmates with work opportunities in several manufacturing sectors, including concrete block production, aluminum joinery, religious articles, uniforms, textile parts, and furniture manufacturing. Notably, the facility has even housed production operations for robotic units, showcasing the innovative approach towards inmate engagement. Around 150 inmates are involved in these productive activities, each having undergone a rigorous technical classification process to establish their psychosocial profiles, which informs their placement in varying roles within the manufacturing operations.

The rehabilitation model adopted by Alcaçuz not only aims to provide inmates with skills that can be utilized upon their release but also offers them a form of income while they serve their sentences. This approach is part of a broader strategy among Brazilian penitentiaries to improve conditions and outcomes for incarcerated individuals, enhancing their reintegration into society and reducing recidivism rates. By sharing these initiatives among state officials, Alcaçuz hopes to influence national standards and practices in prisoner rehabilitation across Brazil.