“I would like to conclude the negotiation process with these careers by the end of the year, so that we can then focus on the studies that will be conducted to enable us to make decisions about equipment levels,” stated the Minister of Justice at the end of a visit to the prisons in Faro and Olhão today.
Rita Alarcão Júdice clarified that she aims for “the conclusion of the negotiation and, ideally, an approval” of a multi-annual plan: “It’s a goal we want to achieve to provide greater stability and predictability to the recruitment and promotion careers, naturally,” she said.
“Prison guards are very necessary, and not just them, but prison guards included. We know that our prison guard body is aging, and we also have many on sick leave,” the minister added, highlighting that it is “a subject being analyzed” with plans “to reinforce and rejuvenate this cadre of guards,” with “various measures being prepared for this purpose.”
Rita Alarcão Júdice noted that the Assistant Secretary of State for Justice, Gonçalo da Cunha Pires, who accompanied her on the visit, has been “very committed to the negotiation with the prison guards to make the career even more attractive.”
“We already have guards and technicians, we are also negotiating with social reintegration technicians, therefore it is very important that these careers are attractive, so we can have more people to improve conditions for those who are already here,” said the Justice Minister.
According to the minister, “there is currently no overcrowding of inmates” in the prisons, but the Government would like “better conditions for those deprived of liberty, as well as for those working with these individuals.”
“The worse the conditions, the greater the tension, and more difficulty exists for those who have to provide security and for those managing the prisons. It’s a global challenge,” said Rita Alarcão Júdice.
According to the Ministry of Justice’s figures, there has been an increase of more than 600 inmates in Portuguese prisons since the beginning of the year, with the facilities currently holding approximately 13,000 detainees.
“We face a significant challenge ahead, we need to increase the capacity of prison facilities by 5%, that was the commitment, and for this, we must be creative to identify additional spaces to accommodate inmates under suitable conditions within the year,” stated the minister.
Regarding the visit to the prisons in Faro and Olhão, Rita Alarcão Júdice expressed returning to Lisbon “with a good impression.”
“I believe the conditions provided to those here are adequate, with dignity, and also for those who work here,” she commented.
[Updated at 7:27 PM]
