Advancing Humanized Prisons: Insights from Jacopo Sabatiello on Implementing the APAC Methodology

Jacopo Sabatiello’s speech at the international webinar “APAC: Humanized Prisons” will share his experiences with implementing the APAC methodology in Brazil and other Latin American countries. He will discuss the crucial role of the Fraternidade Brasileira de Assistência aos Condenados (FBAC) and outline four essential elements for successful APAC implementation: motivated individuals, effective regulation, suitable infrastructure, and persuasive arguments. Emphasizing perseverance and the need for collective involvement from all actors in the criminal justice system, Sabatiello aims to provide a comprehensive guide for those looking to adopt this innovative prison model in their regions.

Jacopo Sabatiello, Vice President of AVSI Brazil, was born in Milan and studied Economics with a specialization in Public Policies and International Institutions. He began his career in Brussels, lobbying for the Confederation of Italian Industries at the European Parliament, and later worked on EU cooperation policies at the Italian Embassy in post-war Serbia. With extensive experience in human rights, corporate social responsibility, urban development, education, and job creation, Sabatiello has spent the past 15 years at AVSI Brazil promoting the rights of incarcerated individuals through projects supporting the Associations for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts (APACs).

“In my speech, I aim to share my experiences with the expansion of the APAC methodology in Brazil and several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Paraguay. Over the past seven to eight years, our work with APACs has provided valuable lessons that I hope will be helpful to those looking to start or continue implementing APACs in their own countries.

Achieving and implementing an APAC in a country outside Brazil is very difficult, but with the assistance of the FBAC, it is possible. Therefore, always reference FBAC, which is available to support the implementation of APACs. So, I want to share the four macro elements we must consider when implementing an APAC in a country. These are 1) the subject, 2) the regulation, 3) the infrastructure, and 4) the argument. From our experience, these four elements must be taken as central points, complementary to each other.

1) The subject: It refers to a person or group of people who organize and assume responsibility for working with the work of an APAC. These people must have two main characteristics: The first is an ideal motivation, that is, a particular interest in people, in human beings, understanding that they have an innate dignity and believing in it with their hearts. Beyond that, these people need to have technical, relational, and managerial competencies to face the challenges that the deployment of an APAC will bring.

2) The regulations: The second point is regulation because the people who are against the APAC will seek legislation, regulations, and resolutions, trying to prevent our dream from becoming a reality. That is why we need to know these topics and the terminologies and structures, knowing that we have an essential point of reference: the APAC methodology. In that sense, my suggestion is to access the manual of application of the APAC methodology made for some countries of Latin America because, in that document, you can find some guidelines and justifications to defend the implementation of APAC in their countries.

3) Infrastructure: The third point is adequate infrastructure, which is always challenging. We have to be flexible, especially in the beginning, so we do not need too much space or significant investments. We need a space that meets two requirements: safety and human dignity. It’s important to start small, but to start.

4) The argument: The last point I would like to raise, which is more complex, is a persuasive argument. My first suggestion is to break from the idea that there is a dichotomy between the human rights of people and those deprived of their liberty and security. On the contrary, they are two sides of the same coin. There is no prison security without human rights, as there are no human rights without security. It is apparent to those who work in this field that we have to convince other people, specifically public opinion.

Finally, as it relates to the authorities, it is different. The authorities probably know, but they have other interests – political, personal, and power – and that’s why the persuasion of authorities is about making an authority gripped by the APAC method. It starts by convincing a judge, a minister, or an authority to fall in love with a human being because it also falls for a man deprived of his liberty. Through it, involve all the other actors. APAC, without the involvement of all the actors in the criminal chain, will be much more difficult.

As I bring my speech to a close, I want to emphasize the importance of perseverance in the APAC implementation process. It’s a long and challenging journey, but one that is undeniably worth it. I urge you, in the face of difficulties, to stay committed and not to give up. Thank you.”

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