His statements came at the presentation of a study by the Cifra consulting firm, according to which the majority of the population would support alternative measures to prison for certain crimes.

“There is overcrowding and there is no treatment for it,” said the commissioner, who considered that the solution is not just to build more prisons.

He urged to address social problems such as addictions, exclusion, poverty, educational and labor insertion’, and made statements to the press speaking in favor of the rehabilitation and treatment of inmates with State investment.

Petit described as “innovative” the results of the research carried out by Cifra on “Justice, Prisons and Rehabilitation: Contributions on alternative sentences for public policy”.

The presentation is part of the “Building bridges” project, promoted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and in coordination with the UN representation in Uruguay.

The director of Cifra, Mariana Pomiés, explained that one of the conclusions of the study was that the population is prone to alternative sentences to prison and rehabilitation with the participation of the State.

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