Prison labor helps take care of the greenery in Belém
The initiative combines social reintegration with the preservation of urban greenery, with 80 inmates working in squares, parks, and the cultivation of native seedlings in the capital of Pará
An initiative that combines the social reintegration of people deprived of liberty with a commitment to environmental preservation gained new momentum with the signing of an agreement between the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (SEAP) and the Municipal Secretariat of the Environment (SEMMA). A total of 80 inmates from the semi-open and open regimes were selected to work on the cleaning and maintenance of public green areas, such as the Botanical Garden Bosque Rodrigues Alves, the SEMMA Model Farm, and the Planning and Projects Department of the municipal secretariat itself.
The strategy of utilizing prison labor allows the detainees to be allocated in a coordinated manner, according to their profiles and individual skills, to perform urban maintenance activities. The inmates also work directly in the cultivation of plant species, being responsible for the management and care of seedlings of plants and trees, which are later planted in squares and public roads in the capital. The action contributes to urban reforestation and the recovery of green areas.
Secretary Marco Antonio Sirotheau Correa Rodrigues, head of SEAP, highlighted the relevance of the partnership. “This partnership reinforces the commitment of the State Government and the municipality to effective public policies that create opportunities for people in situations of social vulnerability and promote positive impacts for society. By offering productive and dignified occupations to people deprived of liberty, with guaranteed income for their families, we reduce criminal recidivism and violence, promoting a fairer and safer society,” said the secretary.
The agreement represents an efficient model of collaborative public management, with a direct impact on the areas of security, environment, and citizenship. The reintegration policy is conducted with social responsibility and respect for current legislation, reaffirming the role of the State in building new paths for those in the process of resocialization. The activity ensures not only the right to sentence reduction, as provided for in the Penal Execution Law, but also guarantees the inmates the receipt of labor and social security rights, promoting dignity, autonomy, and professional training.
For the municipal secretary of the Environment, Juliana Nobre Pinheiro, the initiative plays a fundamental role in improving environmental quality. “For us, this agreement is essential. The PPLs work directly in our green areas. We want to increase this index in the municipality to provide more quality of life, more thermal comfort. With the ongoing climate changes, we need to rescue and transform our municipality into a greener and more sustainable environment. They are essential for us to advance in these maintenance services of strategic areas for SEMMA,” emphasized the manager.
Meanwhile, the director of Labor and Production at SEAP, Belchior Machado, emphasized that the alliance is the result of strategic advances in favor of previously established goals. “SEAP has advanced both in the quantity and quality of job vacancies offered to detainees. This agreement, articulated and signed with SEMMA, is a concrete strategy to achieve the objectives established in the State Prison Work Plan. The allocation of prison labor in environmental activities allows for the fulfillment of quantitative and qualitative goals, such as increasing the labor occupancy rate in the penitentiary system and diversifying the areas of extramural work, in partnership with public entities – as in this case – and with private companies,” he explained.
Familiar with the green areas where the work is carried out, the administrator of the Botanical Garden Rodrigues Alves, Josias Reis, states that the contribution of prison labor is valuable for the conservation of the spaces and adds value to society. “When people visit the spaces, they notice the maintenance, cleanliness, and restoration. Recently, for example, paintings, restoration of facilities, and maintenance of trails were carried out. All of this adds value to public management and improves society's perception regarding the preservation of these places,” noted the manager.
The inmate Neuza Helena Pereira do Nascimento highlighted the importance of the experience for the social reintegration process of the detainees. “The Botanical Garden represents the beginning of a new story. Firstly, through contact with nature, then through the work that inspires us in a profession. Here, we have a real opportunity for work, a profession with which I can support myself, help my family. It is the beginning of a new trajectory as a transformed human being,” she reported.
Rights – Renewed on the last May 16, the agreement between the Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (SEAP) and the Municipal Secretariat of the Environment (SEMMA) ensures inmates the payment of the current minimum wage, the collection of social security contributions, and the right to sentence reduction.
Text: Fernanda Ferreira / Intern NCS Seap Pará
