A Brazilian prison is taking the idea of good-time credits to another level: prisoners can get days time off their sentences for reading books and for generating electricity for a local community.
After Brazilian Judge Jose Henrique Mallman learned about U.S. gyms using exercise bikes to generate electricity, he used the same concept to power 10 street lamps in Santa Rita do Sapucai, a town close to a prison, reported The Associated Press.
The town’s police department’s lost and found donated bicycles to Mallman. The stationary bicycles charge car batteries used to power the lights. Inmates earn one day off their sentence for every 24 hours spent peddling, the AP reported.
“We used to spend all day locked up in our cells, only seeing the sun for two hours a day. Now we’re out in the fresh air, generating electricity for the town and at the same time we’re winning our freedom,” said Ronaldo da Silva, a participant serving a 5 ½-year sentence for robbing a bakery, according to the AP report. He reduced his sentence by 20 days and said in the process he lost nine pounds.
A once-abandoned, dark promenade of Santa Rita do Sapucai is now beaming with activity, AP says. People are jogging, walking their dogs, taking strolls, and kids are riding bicycles.
Prisoners can also reduce their sentence by writing book reports, the AP reported.
The program called, “Redemption through Reading,” allows inmates to earn four days off their sentence for every book they read. The program allows inmates to reduce their sentence a maximum of 48 days a year, if they read 12 books.
Brazilian officials say they’ve received some criticism from the public, saying the initiatives are soft on criminals; however, there’s been little complaint in the country’s press or in other public forums, the AP reports.
California instituted its own literacy program, in 2011, called the Milestone Credit Initiative. It allows inmates serving sentences for non-violent offenses to earn time off for completing certain educational or rehabilitative programs.
“An inmate can earn up to six weeks off their sentence by passing five GED section tests and earning a GED. Time off their sentence can also be earned for completing a college course,” said San Quentin Literacy Coordinator Tom Bolema.
