With Nearly 100 Dead in Prison Riots, Brazil’s Government Faces Crisis

In the wake of the horrific violence at the prison in Manaus, a row has broken out over whether the private company (Umanizzare) that ran the prison is responsible. Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes, blamed Umanizzare for the deaths, noting that the ‘immediate’ and ‘visible’ responsibility is that of the company. ‘The responsibility will be analyzed by the task force that is in charge of the investigation, but the prison is outsourced. It is obvious that the company was at fault". According to The New York Times, “a report by state prosecutors dated Jan. 4 requested that private prison contracts be rescinded because of the ‘lack of control of security and inefficient management.'’