Brazil has one of the most crowded prison systems in the world, housing more than 835,000 inmates in facilities designed for a little more than 580,000 people. But not all prisoners face the same conditions and restrictions. In Brazil, there are three types of prison regimes: closed, semi-open and open.

Closed Regime

The closed regime is Brazil’s most restrictive form of imprisonment, applied to those who have committed serious crimes or have been sentenced to more than eight years in prison. In the closed regime, inmates are confined to a cell, closely supervised and have limited access to work and educational opportunities.

Semi-Open Regime

The semi-open regime allows inmates some degree of freedom and autonomy. It’s generally for those who have been sentenced to four to eight years in prison or have served at least one-sixth of their sentence in the closed regime. In the semi-open regime, inmates can work or study outside the prison during the day but must return to a dormitory-like facility at night. Inmates can also request temporary leave for special occasions.

Open Regime

The open regime is the most lenient form of imprisonment, applied to those who have been sentenced to up to four years in prison or have served at least one-sixth of their sentence in the semi-open regime. In the open regime, inmates don’t need to stay in a prison facility but must comply with certain rules, such as reporting regularly to a judge, attending social service programs and not leaving their city of residence without permission