Acre Government Approves $100,000 Compensation for Families of School Attack Victims

The government of Acre, Brazil, has enacted a new law providing a special compensatory and humanitarian indemnity of R$100,000 per victim to the dependents of those fatally shot in an attack at the Instituto São José in Rio Branco on May 5th. This initiative was sanctioned by Governor Mailza Assis and published in the State Official Gazette. The law, authored by state representative Pedro Longo, designates the benefit for surviving spouses or partners, minor children under 21, or economically dependent parents. If multiple beneficiaries are eligible, the amount will be divided equally. The indemnity is strictly for compensation and humanitarian purposes, separate from pension, labor, or welfare benefits. Beneficiaries will need to undergo an administrative qualification process, to be regulated by the Executive Branch. Payments are scheduled for disbursement by January 31, 2027, with a possibility of earlier payment in 2026 if budget allows and dependents are qualified. The law explicitly states that this compensation does not automatically imply civil, administrative, or labor liability for the State, the school's governing body, or third parties, nor does it prevent beneficiaries from seeking further legal recourse. The attack tragically claimed the lives of inspectors Raquel Sales Feitosa, 36, and Alzenir Pereira da Silva, 53, while a 11-year-old student and another staff member sustained injuries but were released the same day. The perpetrator, a 13-year-old student, has been detained and is undergoing a socio-educational measure for an indefinite period, not exceeding three years as per the Child and Adolescent Statute, with the case under judicial seal.