Brazil Senate approves major expansion of federal security powers

The Brazilian Senate voted unanimously on Nov. 3 to approve a constitutional amendment that significantly increases the federal government's authority over public security. The measure, known as the PEC da Segurança, passed in two rounds of voting with 73 votes in favor in the first round and 75 in the second.

The amendment formally enshrines the Unified Public Security System into the Constitution to coordinate security policies across federal, state and municipal levels. It also provides the legal framework to establish a new federal ministry dedicated to public security and expands the operational reach of the Federal Highway Police.

Under the new provisions, municipal civil guards are permitted to conduct community surveillance, and oil revenue is directed toward funding policing and prison infrastructure. The legislation also introduces stricter sentencing for leaders of criminal organizations, including mandatory maximum-security imprisonment and limitations on parole.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who proposed the reform, stated that the measure is intended to protect citizens and combat organized crime. The amendment addresses long-standing concerns that the 1988 Constitution, which placed public security primarily under state jurisdiction, hindered efforts to manage criminal activity crossing state and national borders.

Legislators removed a proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 18 to 16 during the deliberation process, opting to address that issue separately in the future. Because the Senate approved the text without changes from the version passed by the lower house on March 4, the amendment will move directly to formal promulgation by the National Congress without requiring further presidential approval.