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Can prison inmates publish books? A denied publication took this discussion to Brazil’s Supreme Court

September 2, 2025

Sagat B, a former inmate who discovered literature while imprisoned in Rio de Janeiro, has become an advocate for inmates' right to publish books as the Brazilian Supreme Court debates this issue. The case originated when a federal penitentiary director denied an inmate permission to publish a 1,000-page manuscript, citing security concerns about potential coded messages to criminal organizations. While the Federal Prison System Handbook prohibits inmates in maximum-security facilities from disseminating written materials, no Brazilian law explicitly forbids prisoners from publishing their work, making this a constitutional question about freedom of expression.

Who is affected

  • Inmates in both federal and state prison systems across Brazil
  • The specific inmate from Campo Grande Federal Penitentiary whose publishing request was denied
  • Members of the Brazilian Academy of Prison Letters (ABLC)
  • Prison administrators and directors who currently make decisions about inmates' publishing rights
  • Potentially all future incarcerated writers in Brazil

What action is being taken

  • The Federal Supreme Court (STF) is currently reviewing whether restrictions on inmates publishing books respect the Federal Constitution
  • The Brazilian Academy of Prison Letters is preparing a petition to be included as an "amicus curiae" in the Supreme Court case
  • The ABLC is actively gathering inmates and former prisoners who have published books and advocating for prisoners' literary rights
  • Some states including São Paulo, Paraná, Espírito Santo and Paraíba are organizing literary contests for prison populations

Why it matters

  • Literature is described by former inmates as "essential" for resocialization and reintegration
  • The case highlights tensions between security concerns in prisons and inmates' constitutional rights to free expression
  • Current decisions about publishing are made arbitrarily by prison directors without required justification
  • The ban on publishing contradicts a 2021 resolution by the National Council of Justice that promotes reading and educational activities in exchange for sentence reduction
  • The Penal Execution Law guarantees inmates the right to culture and education, making publishing restrictions potentially unconstitutional

What's next

  • The Supreme Court will decide whether the restriction on inmate publishing respects the Federal Constitution
  • The Court will determine whether the ABLC can participate as an "amicus curiae" in the case
  • If granted participation, the ABLC will defend inmates' rights to publish their writings before the Supreme Court
  • The Court's ruling on the federal prison case will extend to inmates in regular prison units under state management

Read full article from source: Global Voices