EXECUTIONS

93and psychological assistance.2.9 Impose AdministrativeDisciplineNotoriously abusive policemen should be dismissedadministratively or, at the very least, suspended from active duty untilcriminal charges have been resolved. At a minimum, police accused ofhomicide should be placed on unarmed duty until investigations arecompleted. The practice, followed in several states, of waiting for thecourts to convict officers before removing them administratively should beabandoned. In addition to prosecuting abusive police officers criminally,police internal affairs divisions should carry out vigorous reviews toidentify and discipline police officers who engage in abusive conduct.Two provisions of the Brazilian Constitution contains at least twoprovisions (art. 41, sec. 1 and art. 42, sec. 7 and sec. 8) that ensure tenurefor certain civil servants, both military and non-military, despiteconvictions entered against them. These provisions have been interpretedso as to undermine legitimate efforts to dismiss abusive police officers. Tothe extent that the Brazilian Constitution guarantees police officers theirpositions notwithstanding involvement in grave human rights violations,it must be amended.2.10 Modify the Appointment ofAssistants to the ProsecutionBrazilian NGOs have pressed for prosecutions in homicidescommitted by police by acting with the consent of the families, as assistantsto the prosecution (assistente de acusação). However, these NGOs are notpermitted to intervene when the victims of violence are not identified, orwhen the family members, fearing reprisals, do not authorize them to act asassistants. The Brazilian Congress should approve legislation empoweringnon-governmental organizations to act as assistants to the prosecution, inappropriate circumstances, without requiring the authorization from thefamily of the victim.2.11 Control Deadly ForceAuthorities must take decisive steps to ensure police agents use