Brazil's Chamber Approves Mandatory Electronic Monitoring for Domestic Violence Offenders
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies has approved mandatory electronic ankle bracelets for domestic violence offenders to enhance victim protection, building on São Paulo's pioneering monitoring program.
- • Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved PL 2942/2024 mandating electronic ankle bracelets for high-risk domestic violence offenders.
- • Only 6% of current protective measures include electronic monitoring, a gap the new law aims to close.
- • São Paulo has fitted 1,198 aggressors with ankle bracelets since 2023 and made 123 arrests for protective order violations.
- • The bill includes increased penalties for breaches and more funding for combating violence against women.
- • Victims may receive portable tracking devices; local police can implement tracking in areas without judicial presence.
Key details
The Chamber of Deputies in Brazil has approved Project of Law (PL) 2942/2024, which mandates the use of electronic ankle bracelets for offenders in domestic violence cases deemed high risk. This legislative move aims to enhance the protection of women victims by ensuring that aggressors are closely monitored. Authored by deputies Fernanda Melchionna (PSol-RS) and Marcos Tavares (PDT-RJ), and amended by rapporteur Delegate Ione (Avante-MG), the law requires judges to immediately impose electronic monitoring in situations of significant threat to the victim's life and when previous protective measures have been violated.
Currently, only about 6% of protective measures involve electronic monitoring, a statistic highlighted by Melchionna as critical to reducing femicides and repeat offenses. The law also increases penalties for violations of protective orders and allocates additional funds from the National Public Security Fund—raising its contribution from 5% to 6%—specifically for combating violence against women, including the purchase and maintenance of monitoring equipment.
Complementing this national initiative, the state of São Paulo has already implemented a comprehensive network for protecting women and children from violence. Since 2023, São Paulo has fitted 1,198 abusers with electronic ankle bracelets and made 123 arrests for violations of protective measures. The system begins with emergency calls to 190 and connects victims to specialized support services offered by the Military, Civil, and Technical-Scientific Police. São Paulo's pioneering use of electronic monitoring, alongside panic button applications, serves as a model for national expansion.
The approved bill also introduces the possibility for victims to carry portable tracking devices that alert both police and themselves if the aggressor approaches. In regions lacking judicial representation, local police are empowered to implement monitoring measures. The law now proceeds to the Senate for further discussion and potential amendments before presidential approval.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
