Chinese Prisoners in Brazil Reveal Life Behind Bars in Book
Book details prison life and the fear felt by Chinese inmates in a penitentiary in São Paulo’s interior
Source: https://www.metropoles.com/sao-paulo/chineses-bastidores-prisao-livro
By Artur Rodrigues and Milena Vogado
“As the saying goes: ‘Without rules, there is no order.’ Outside, businesses have their own standards, schools have their own discipline, and society has its own laws. But in prison, a closed and rigid society, there are no laws written on paper—only rules, and they matter even more.”
This passage comes from a book circulating among Chinese inmates, containing accounts of life behind bars in the interior of São Paulo state. The Metrópoles team obtained excerpts of the anonymous material, written in the native language of inmates at Itaí Penitentiary — many of whom are serving sentences for crimes tied to the Chinese mafia.
As previously reported by Metrópoles, Itaí prison housed 27 Chinese detainees earlier this year, charged with crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Recently, they were transferred to José Parada Neto Penitentiary in Guarulhos, signaling a possible shutdown of Itaí, which had become known for holding foreign inmates in São Paulo state.
When contacted, the Department of Penitentiary Administration (SAP) did not provide an explanation for the transfer as of the latest update.
The book obtained exclusively by Metrópoles serves primarily as a guide for foreigners trying to adapt to incarceration in a foreign country.
According to sources, the book’s original author was a Chinese inmate who spent less than a month in pre-trial detention at Itaí last year — long enough to grasp the prison's dynamics in a setting where multiple languages are spoken and contact with family is almost nonexistent.
After the author’s release, the writings were reportedly handed to another Chinese prisoner, now responsible for continuing the work, which is passed around on printed pages among inmates.
Read Excerpts from the Book
Translated from Chinese by the reporters, the text is fluidly written, sometimes poetic, and includes accounts of events unknown even to prison staff, according to the investigation.
The author begins by describing the unwritten rules of daily duty within the prison — essential norms for surviving behind bars:
“No one will help you find things, no one tells you what to do after meals, and being excluded from the duty group is the harshest punishment. When I learned this rule, it felt like I had fallen into a frozen well. I didn’t know if I could handle it.”
The author, who had watched prison dramas on TV, found the reality far more brutal:
“Every detail hid violence.”
Upon being incarcerated, he found himself surrounded by strangers eyeing him like prey:
“All the discomfort, fear, and anxiety in the face of the unknown — everything is amplified to the extreme.”
The author uses the book to offer encouragement to fellow countrymen:
“If you want to survive in prison, you must adapt quickly,” wrote the former inmate, now free. “Every step you take is a step toward survival.”
Daily Routine
The first step to survival, right after waking up, is ensuring the prison space is thoroughly cleaned, no matter how harsh the environment.
Sweeping the floors, scrubbing corners, cleaning toilets, washing all rags, organizing utensils, and cleaning under the beds are among the listed duties. Tasks begin before sunrise, around 5 a.m.
“Cleaning must be done with strong detergents — sometimes even caustic soda. The cell must smell like disinfectant to pass inspection.”
According to the book, inspections are strict, and punishment is certain if standards aren’t met:
“The reason for this demand is simple: nobody wants to live somewhere where others behave like animals. That’s why the weekly cleaning turns into ‘military cleaning,’” the author writes. Even a bit of dirt, he notes, can lead to punishment.
After this exhausting morning cleaning, breakfast is prepared and shared among inmates. Once the meal ends, everything must be cleaned again. Lunch and dinner follow the same pattern, all under heavy supervision.
The prison day ends with one final obligation: a new round of bathroom cleaning.
“This is essential — no one can wash themselves before the toilets are clean,” the author emphasizes.
Solitary, Discreet, and Desperate for Freedom
Metrópoles found that Chinese detainees at Itaí tended to stay under the radar. Most receive no visits, send letters, and rely solely on lawyers. Their goal is simple: reduce sentences and leave as quickly as possible.
To pass the time, they play games, chain-smoke, and watch soap operas — a useful way to learn Portuguese. The language learning is also supported by dozens of dictionaries sent by the Chinese Consulate, making the Chinese section of Itaí’s library one of the largest due to the volume of books provided.
Academic performance matches the reading materials: Chinese prisoners scored above average on Brazil’s national high school exam (ENEM) and earned prizes in math olympiads.
Even though they pick up Portuguese quickly, they only speak it when convenient and avoid mingling with inmates of other nationalities. Their behavior differs from that of Latin Americans, for example, who often group themselves by shared criminal backgrounds, such as robbery.
Who Are the Chinese Prisoners in Itaí?
Metrópoles reviewed records of most of the 27 Chinese prisoners held at the facility.
Drug traffickers made up the majority — 11 individuals. Their profiles range from those caught producing methamphetamine to others caught attempting to transport drugs to Europe.
The latter, often referred to as “mules,” were reportedly forced by criminal groups to carry drugs to repay debts, according to the investigation.