The human right to health in the Brazilian penitentiary system during the COVID-19 pandemic

The case of Goiás

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29105/cc5.8-103

Keywords:

human rights, right to health, COVID-19, penitentiary system

Abstract

This study analyzes the protection of the social right to health for the prison population during the management of the health crisis caused by the new coronavirus in the Brazilian state of Goiás. To address this issue, both the structural problems in the provision of fundamental health guarantees for inmates in Brazil and the development of the COVID-19 health crisis in the prison units of Goiás are examined. The study is qualitative in nature and is based on a bibliographic and documentary review, prioritizing as sources the public regulations issued by the Government of the State of Goiás and the General Directorate of the Penitentiary System during the period from March 2020 to March 2021. The findings show that, in the analyzed temporal and spatial context, the state government did not effectively guarantee the social right to health for prisoners. This finding results in a severe detriment to the protection of human rights, exceeds the scope of ius puniendi, and constitutes an abuse of the state's punitive power, thus amounting to a flagrant unconstitutional state of affairs that must be addressed both during the pandemic and after the health emergency has ended.

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Author Biographies

Heitor de Carvalho Pagliaro, Federal University of Goias

Professor of Law at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, where he directs the PhD Program in Human Rights. He holds a PhD in Law from the University of Brasília (Brazil), an MA in Philosophy from UFG, and a BA in Law from UFG. As a licensed lawyer in Brazil (OAB-GO 32571) and Portugal (OA 67768L), he serves as the Vice President of the Human Rights Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association - Goiás Chapter. Contact: heitor@heitorpagliaro.com. ORCID: 0000-0001-6431-930X. More information at heitorpagliaro.com.

Rafael Duarte Soares Moura, Montes Claros State University

Postdoctorate in Human Rights from the Federal University of Goias – UFG (Brazil). PhD in Law from the University of Brasilia – UnB (Brazil). Master’s in Law from the Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG (Brazil). Law Professor at the State University of Montes Claros – UNIMONTES (Brazil). Lawyer in Brazil (OAB-MG 123208). ORCID: 0000-0002-1104-491X. Contact: rafael.moura@unimontes.br.

Rafael Gonçalves da Silva, Goiás State University

Professor of Law at the State University of Goias (Brazil). Analyst at the Court of Justice of the State of Goiás (Brazil). PhD candidate in Law at the Brazilian Institute of Teaching, Development, and Research – IDP (Brazil). He holds an MA in Human Rights from the Federal University of Goias (Brazil), and a BA in Law from the Evangelical University of Goias (Brazil). ORCID: 0000-0002-2457-8638. Contact: rafael.silva@ueg.br.

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Published

2025-01-31

How to Cite

de Carvalho Pagliaro, H., Duarte Soares Moura, R., & Gonçalves da Silva, R. (2025). The human right to health in the Brazilian penitentiary system during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Goiás. Constructos Criminológicos, 5(8), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.29105/cc5.8-103

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 8 (2025): January-June 2025

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Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2025 Heitor de Carvalho Pagliaro, Rafael Duarte Soares Moura, Rafael Gonçalves da Silva

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