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Justice

Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice Pledges 'Tolerância Zero' on Prison Deaths After Families Hand In a 15 May Letter — DGRSP Logged 64 In-Custody Deaths Across 2025 With 14 Suicides as Sobrelotação Returns at 12,981 Reclusos

Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice Pledges 'Tolerância Zero' on Prison Deaths After Families Hand In a 15 May Letter — DGRSP Logged 64 In-Custody Deaths Across 2025 With 14 Suicides as Sobrelotação Returns at 12,981 Reclusos

On Friday 15 May, families of prisoners who died in custody handed Rita Alarcão Júdice a five-demand letter. The minister pledged 'tolerância zero' for deaths unrelated to illness. DGRSP logged 64 in-custody deaths in 2025 with 14 suicides as overcrowding returned at 12,981 reclusos.
The Portugal Brief
Portugal's High-Speed-Vessel Crackdown Takes Effect on Sunday 17 May After 90-Day Vacatio Legis — 1-to-4-Year Prison for Flagless EAVs, €100,000 Corporate Fines and the 'Narcopirataria' Regime Inherits the October Guadiana GNR Fatality

Portugal's High-Speed-Vessel Crackdown Takes Effect on Sunday 17 May After 90-Day Vacatio Legis — 1-to-4-Year Prison for Flagless EAVs, €100,000 Corporate Fines and the 'Narcopirataria' Regime Inherits the October Guadiana GNR Fatality

Portugal's new high-speed-vessel regime enters force on Sunday 17 May after a 90-day vacatio legis. Flagless EAVs draw 1-4 years in prison; €25k individual / €100k corporate fines; DGRM licensing and AT customs become non-optional. PJ has seized 200+ narcolanchas in six years.
The Portugal Brief
Tribunal Administrativo de Lisboa Walks José Sócrates's €50,000 Marquês Indemnização Action Into Open Court on Thursday 14 May — Nine-Year-Old 2017 Civil Filing Finally Reaches Final Hearing After ECHR Files Two Question Sets to the Portuguese State

Tribunal Administrativo de Lisboa Walks José Sócrates's €50,000 Marquês Indemnização Action Into Open Court on Thursday 14 May — Nine-Year-Old 2017 Civil Filing Finally Reaches Final Hearing After ECHR Files Two Question Sets to the Portuguese State

The Tribunal Administrativo de Círculo de Lisboa opened the final hearing on Thursday 14 May 2026 in the civil-indemnification action that former Prime Minister José Sócrates filed against the Portuguese State in 2017 — a procedural first for the...
The Portugal Brief
Polícia Judiciária Walks Three Suspects Into the Tribunal de Instrução Criminal do Porto on 13 May — Operação 'Saco Roto' Detects Over €1.8 Million of EU Funds Diverted Through 30 Co-Financed Operations Across Seven Districts, €100,000 Cash Seized

Polícia Judiciária Walks Three Suspects Into the Tribunal de Instrução Criminal do Porto on 13 May — Operação 'Saco Roto' Detects Over €1.8 Million of EU Funds Diverted Through 30 Co-Financed Operations Across Seven Districts, €100,000 Cash Seized

Polícia Judiciária's Guarda DIC arrested three suspects on Wednesday 13 May in Operação 'Saco Roto', detecting more than €1.8 million of EU co-financing diverted across 30 operations. About €100,000 cash seized. Detainees presented to Tribunal de Instrução Criminal do Porto.
The Portugal Brief