The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative observations of hearings, semi-structured interviews with key actors (judges, prosecutors, defenders, adolescents), and quantitative analysis of court records.
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Geographically, the study is broad. Data was collected in six capital cities across Brazil, representing the diverse regional realities and varying models of juvenile justice systems in the country.
Key findings point to a persistent problem of torture, primarily perpetrated by state agents (police officers), coupled with significant challenges in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting these acts within the legal system.
The report highlights how vague legal definitions of torture and a tendency to give more credence to the accounts of law enforcement over victims further complicate the issue. This corroborates other research on the credibility deficits of marginalized groups.
The study also raises concerns about the overuse of provisional detention, the normalization of violence among some adolescents, and the underutilization of forensic examinations to document abuse.
The report offers several recommendations, including enhanced training for legal professionals, stronger external oversight of police activity, and guaranteed access to legal defense for all adolescents.
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