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Demolition of Barreto Campelo Ends 51 Years of Operation in Itamaracá and Paves the Way for Tourist Projects and Prison Restructuring in Pernambuco.
The Penitentiary Professor Barreto Campelo, located on the Island of Itamaracá, in Northern Pernambuco, began to be demolished this Friday (19).
The process started in one of the unit’s pavilions and definitively ends the history of a structure that operated for 51 years but had accumulated complaints and was considered one of the most precarious in the State.
Governor Raquel Lyra (PSD) personally accompanied the start of the demolition and announced the measure on her social media.
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During the visit, she emphasized that the act symbolizes not only the removal of an outdated structure but also the strengthening of the penitentiary system. “The conditions found were very precarious, in an environment where people were not seen for resocialization,” she stated.
Raquel also stressed that the deactivation of the prison was only possible with the creation of new vacancies in other units. “It was possible to ensure the demolition of something that should have been torn down a long time ago,” she added.
The Closure of the Unit and the Mega Operation “Final Point”
The Barreto Campelo was officially deactivated about five months ago, following the mega operation “Final Point.” The closure occurred in response to serious allegations of structural and security failures.
The Secretary of Penitentiary Administration and Resocialization (Seap) stated that the measure is part of a restructuring plan for the penitentiary system and meets a long-standing demand from residents and tourists of Northern Pernambuco.
With a capacity of 640 vacancies, the unit housed 472 inmates until February. At that time, 460 detainees were transferred to other prisons in the State.
The relocation required a large operation on March 1, which mobilized 332 military police, 12 civilian police, 115 penitentiary officers, in addition to firefighters and intelligence agents.
Some of the inmates were sent to the Leonardo Lago Penitentiary, newly inaugurated in the Curado Prison Complex, while the rest were directed to the Itaquitinga Penitentiary.
Precarious Structure and Constant Risks
Inspection reports, which included participation from the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), indicated that the penitentiary was in calamitous conditions.
The walls showed cracks, there was open sewage, leaks, rust, and a risk of short circuit.
The scenario also included serious deficiencies in security and assistance. The number of penitentiary officers was insufficient.
Moreover, there was a lack of beds, mattresses, bedding, towels, and basic hygiene items, which aggravated the precarious situation.
Repercussions and Plans for the Future
The Secretary of Penitentiary Administration and Resocialization, Paulo Paes, classified the deactivation as a “great advancement for the penitentiary system.” He assured that the receiving units for the detainees were not overcrowded.
The Penitentiary Officers’ Union also supported the decision, emphasizing that the working conditions were unsustainable within Barreto Campelo.
The state government has already confirmed that the land of the former penitentiary will be repurposed. There is a project in development that envisions the installation of tourist facilities on the hectares previously occupied by the penitentiary system.
Additionally, the administration intends to eventually close the São João Agroindustrial Penitentiary, aimed at inmates in a semi-open regime, consolidating the strategy of modernizing the penitentiary system in Pernambuco.
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