Police in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro are searching for 255 escaped prisoners, including two drug traffickers. As reported by the media, the prisoners were temporarily released from prison at Christmas and did not return afterwards, contrary to regulations. They were not wearing electronic ankle bracelets, reported the G1 news portal, citing Rio's Department of Corrections.
Temporary release over Christmas is provided for in the Prison Act and can be granted to prisoners under certain conditions. They must have already served 60% of their sentence and be in semi-open prison.
After a tightening of the law in 2019, convicts serving a prison sentence for a “heinous crime resulting in death” are no longer entitled to it. These crimes include robbery, kidnapping, rape and torture resulting in death.
The two drug traffickers were not affected by this change in the law because they had already committed their crimes before. The deadline for the return had already expired on December 30 at 10pm, it was said.