Law No. 15.245, which strengthens the fight against organized crime, was published on Thursday (Oct. 30) in the Official Gazette of the Union. Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the legislation amends the Penal Code (Law 2.848/1940), introducing new criminal offenses and expanding protections for public agents.
According to the text, hiring a member of a criminal organization to commit a crime will now carry a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years, to be added to the sentence for the crime committed.
The Criminal Organizations Law (12.850/2013) was also amended and now defines the crimes of obstructing action against a criminal organization and conspiring to obstruct it, both punishable by 4 to 12 years in prison.
In both cases, even before the trial, the accused’s preventive detention must be served in a federal maximum-security prison, emphasizes the text of the new law.
In addition to these changes, Law No. 12.694 was amended to provide personal protection measures for judicial authorities, members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, police officers, and other public security professionals, active or retired. The protection will be guaranteed to professionals who face risks arising from the exercise of their function and extends to their family members.
Operação Contenção
The amendment to the Penal Code was announced following Operation Contenção, an action by the Rio de Janeiro Civil and Military Police against the Comando Vermelho faction in the Alemão and Penha favelas, which left more than 120 dead.
The operation is considered the deadliest in the country’s history and exposed the challenges of fighting organized crime.
In retaliation, criminals linked to Comando Vermelho blocked streets throughout the city with vehicles and barricades and even launched explosives from drones, directly affecting the lives of Rio residents.
Gabinete de Emergência
Another political announcement following the disastrous operation in Rio de Janeiro was the creation of an emergency cabinet to combat organized crime in the state.
According to the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, and the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, the objective is to improve integration between the federal and state levels.
The coordination will be shared between the National Secretary for Public Security, Mário Sarrubbo, and the Secretary of Public Security of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Santos.
Source: Agência Brasil