CAT/OP/BRA/2/Add.1 51. Lastly, information is presented on important issues that, although addressed in the Subcommittee’s last report, were also touched upon in recommendations in its first report, including (a) alternative non-custodial measures; (b) access to justice and a public defender; (c) criminal forensics; and (d) computerized data systems and indicators. A. Plans to improve the prison system 52. The Federal Government acknowledges that the shortfall in prison capacity constitutes one of the biggest obstacles to the implementation of policies on social reintegration and safeguarding the rights of persons deprived of their liberty. In order to improve conditions in prisons around the country, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, launched its National Prison System Support Programme, which is regulated by Order No. 522 of 22 November 2011 (annex IV). A budget of 1,100 million reais (R$) was allocated to complete it by the end of 2014. 53. The programme aims specifically to eliminate the shortfall in capacity in women’s prisons and to reduce the number of people held in police custody by transferring them to units that are properly equipped to execute the relevant court order. More space is being created by expanding existing male remand facilities, reducing the number of pretrial detention units for women and also cutting back on custodial sentences for female offenders. 54. On the basis of Resolution No. 9/2011 of the National Council on Criminal and Penitentiary Policy, and in line with the Support Programme, the National Prisons Department of the Ministry of Justice has drafted outline projects for the building of six prison facilities, three each for women and men, with a view to bringing the federal entities into line with the new Basic Guidelines for Prison Construction, bearing in mind climate variations in Brazil. 55. In the framework of Order No. 522/2011, 96 contracts for payment transfers have been signed with 25 federal entities for the construction of 96 prisons, 21 for women and 75 for men, compliant with the new prison construction guidelines. Some 44,700 more places (7,870 for women and 36,830 for men) will be created in the Brazilian prison system by the end of 2014. 56. The Ministry of Justice is also encouraging every federal entity to draw up periodic plans for the construction of more prison space, in order above all to reduce the shortfall in capacity, a key objective of the Prison System Master Plan, details of which appear in section 3.3 below. B. Agreement on Measures to Improve the Prison System and Reduce the Shortfall in Capacity 57. As a direct result of the Subcommittee’s visit to the country in November 2011, the Human Rights Secretariat of the Office of the President, together with the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the President, the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the National Council of Justice, the National Council of the Department of Prosecution and the National Council of Public Defenders, formed a working group to discuss such issues as the enforcement of criminal sentences, access to justice and prison administration. The 14 GE.14-42059