Opportunities Fair promoted by the prison unit values the work of detainees
People deprived of liberty benefited from professional training and social reintegration actions showcased woodworking and handicraft products to the public
The State Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (Seap), through the Custody and Reintegration Unit of Cametá (UCR Cametá), held the Opportunities Fair at Praça Raimundo Peres. The event took place from 8 am to 12 pm and featured the participation of 10 detainees, judicially authorized by the local District Judge, Jacob Arnaldo Farache. The action was supported by 10 penitentiary staff, including penal police, penitentiary agents, and social reintegration and work professionals.
The Fair showcased woodworking and handicraft products made by people deprived of liberty who participate in professional training and social reintegration actions at the unit. The exclusive pieces, produced with quality and social awareness, demonstrate the talent, discipline, and effort of the detainees to transform their lives.
Training - For the director of UCR Cametá, Júnior Xavier, the event is a fundamental step in social reintegration. “When a person deprived of liberty receives their release order and progresses to open regime, they become a former inmate of Seap. And this former inmate needs to be prepared for life in society. Here, at the unit, they may have studied in the EJA Fundamental (Education for Young People and Adults), a result of the cooperation agreement between Seap and the City Hall of Cametá. They may have pursued higher education through EaD (Distance Education), taking vocational courses in partnership with Senar (National Rural Learning Service) or participated in work workshops, such as woodworking, upholstery, sandal manufacturing, broom making, and sewing. These opportunities allow them to leave more qualified, with dignity and hope to restart their story,” emphasized the manager.
The social reintegration technician of the unit, Luana Moraes, highlighted the relevance of the activities. “Although I have only been in the position for a few months, I have recognized the importance of these social reintegration actions for the detainees. Each course, each workshop, each moment of study or work opens new perspectives and strengthens the process of personal reconstruction. The impact of this is reflected not only within the unit but especially when these men return to family and community life,” she stressed.
The detainee Elielson dos Santos Costa, who participated in the Fair for the first time, shared his experience. “It was very gratifying to see people admiring the products made by us in the unit. I want to leave here different from how I entered, with a better mindset. Moreover, I am learning a lot in the production area, especially in the metalworking part,” he reported.
Remission - According to the Penal Execution Law (LEP), for every three days of study or work, the inmate is entitled to a remission of one day of the sentence, duly added to their progression process. Therefore, activities like the Fair have a direct impact on reducing recidivism and building concrete opportunities after serving the sentence.
The Opportunities Fair reaffirms Seap's commitment to transforming the prison system into a space for learning, rehabilitation, and human dignity, bringing society closer to social reintegration practices and strengthening restorative justice in Pará.
