Prison Units in Belém and Ananindeua Receive Video Conference Rooms
Equipped spaces will ensure virtual hearings and visits with more dignity, security, and efficiency in the prison system of Pará
The Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (Seap), delivered on Thursday (18) new video conference rooms at the Custody Units for Reintegration of Coqueiro, in Belém, and the Women's Reintegration Unit, in Ananindeua. With this, there are already 10 prison units in the State equipped with the system. The goal is to reach 27 by the end of this year.
The rooms were designed for virtual hearings and remote family visits, promoting social inclusion, saving public resources, and speeding up legal processes. The initiative is part of a technical cooperation agreement between Seap, the Court of Justice of the State of Pará (TJPA), and the National Secretariat of Penal Policies (Senappen) of the Ministry of Justice.
Advancement in Social Reintegration
The head of Seap, Marco Antônio Sirotheu Corrêa Rodrigues, emphasized that the measure goes beyond modernizing the penal system and is aligned with the mission of reintegrating the detainee into society. “Our role is not just to custody. It is to prepare the individual in their reintegration process, so that they can live harmoniously in society and have a real opportunity to improve their lives. This is our banner,” he stated.
Sirotheu also classified the partnership with the Judiciary as a humanitarian and economic advancement. “With this implementation, a person who is in Redenção, for example, can virtually visit a relative detained in Belém. This reduces travel, risks, and costs for the State, and preserves family ties,” he added.
Inclusion, Economy, and Efficiency
The video conference rooms were structured to ensure security, connectivity, and accessibility. With them, hearings can be held without the need for escorts, contributing to the efficiency of the penal system and the dignity of the prison population.
The director of Work and Production at Seap, Belchior Machado, highlighted the benefits for public management. “Video conferencing reduces costs for the Secretariat, brings economy to the State, and, above all, ensures a fairer criminal execution process, in which the person is heard at the right time,” he said.
The director of the Penitentiary Administration Directorate (DAP), Odenir Margalho, emphasized the role of technology in ensuring fundamental rights. “It demonstrates the interest of the State and the three Powers in ensuring that every citizen has means to exercise their defense and present their reasons,” he pointed out.
Direct Impact on the Units
The director of the Women's Reintegration Unit in Ananindeua, Dorotheia Soares, explained that the new rooms will bring direct benefits to the 468 detainees of the unit. “These rooms meet our desire to provide a more humanized service to the prison population. I thank everyone who spared no effort to make this possible,” she stated.
The director of the Coqueiro Unit, Romildo Cunha, reinforced the positive impact of the measure on the process of valuing the detainees. “The person deprived of liberty begins to feel more valued, which is essential for their transformation. This directly reflects on their possibility of reintegration,” he assessed.
Recognition and Partnerships
The auxiliary judge of the Presidency of TJPA, Charles Menezes Barros, representing the president of the Court, Judge Roberto Gonçalves de Moura, stated that technology should be seen as an ally of resocialization. “It is important not to break family ties. They are essential for true social reintegration. Technology is a tool to guarantee rights and efficiency in the Justice system,” he declared.
The cooperation agreement provides for the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of up to 63 video conference kits under the responsibility of TJPA. Seap is responsible for ensuring the physical and technical infrastructure in the units, while Senappen acts in monitoring and supervising the project. The duration of the partnership is 60 months.
Present Authorities
In addition to Secretary Marco Sirotheu, the ceremonies were attended by the director of Criminal Execution at Seap, Lucas Bellard; the director of Logistics, Property, and Infrastructure, Nacib Jordy; public defender Flávio Ferreira; and prosecutor Lizeth Nascimento, representing the Attorney General, Alexandre Tourinho.
Text: Ascom SEAP
