Rio Court prohibits apprehension of teenagers without being caught; governor reacts

The Rio de Janeiro Court prohibited the arrest of teenagers without being caught during Operation Verão. The only exception is if there is a written order from the competent judicial authority. The decision was published by judge Lysia Maria da Rocha Mesquita, head of the 1st Court of Children, Youth and the Elderly of the District of the Capital.

On social media, Governor Cláudio Castro criticized the judge’s decision and said he will appeal. “The decision first beats, kills and then acts? Can that be right? Obviously not! We will immediately appeal this decision,” he wrote.

Castro also added: “I accept and respect the court decision that prohibited the police from working preventively in Operation Summer – beachfront. We will appeal because the decision is wrong. The fundamental principle of public security is prevention, which was hijacked in this decision.”

The request was made by the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ), in a public civil action in which it denounces the unmotivated driving of teenagers to a reception center, by Operation Verão agents. The MPRJ pointed out that of the more than 80 teenagers sent to the reception center, in only one case did the agents present a reason for the seizure.

According to the decision, children and young people are also prevented from being taken to reception centers, without a court decision or the need for an urgent protective measure.

“It is important that the state and municipality of Rio de Janeiro mobilize to guarantee the safety of everyone on the beach and access to it, but without violating rights or encouraging more violence. Residents of brown and black outskirts, children and teenagers, must have their right to enjoy the beaches like everyone else guaranteed, and it is up to the state and municipality to ensure safe coming and going for everyone”, wrote judge Lysia Maria Mesquita, in his order of December 11th.

The judge also ordered two reception centers to forward reports on the teenagers forcibly taken during Operation Verão to the Court. The state and city hall will also have to inform, within ten days, their security plans and social approach for the summer period, which do not violate the rights of children and adolescents.