Brazil's Dosimetry Law would favor Bolsonaro and military leaders due to the events of January 8, 2023

Published at: 08/05/2026 05:00 PM

The recent enactment of the Dosimetry Law in Brazil has raised alarms about a possible reduction in criminal liability for the masterminds of the attack on the Three Powers. The new legal framework could drastically shorten the sentences of Jair Bolsonaro and his closest collaborators linked to the plot.

The structural change lies in the fact that justice will no longer add up to the penalties for concurrent crimes, such as the attempted coup d'etat and the violent abolition of the rule of law. Instead, only the most serious sanction will be applied, limiting the total time of imprisonment for the political and military leadership under investigation.

This technical modification directly benefits those prosecuted for the planning and financing of the events of January 8, 2023. As the conviction ceiling decreases, the judicial scenario for the former president and his environment becomes less severe in the face of ongoing investigations.

In addition, the regulations allow prisoners to access freedom benefits after serving only 16% of their sentence. This would make it easier for high-level figures, involved in institutional destabilization, to leave prison in a significantly shorter time than previously expected.

The annulment of the presidential veto by the National Congress is interpreted as a legal shield against the criminal rigor of the Judiciary. The Legislature argues a search for “proportionality”, although in practice it weakens the State's capacity to punish the rupture of the democratic order.

The constitutionality of this law will now be evaluated by the Federal Supreme Court. It is up to the magistrates to decide if this new scheme represents a setback in justice in the face of the attacks of January 8, 2023 or if it remains an existing benefit for those involved.

Mazo News Team