# Law No. 7210 of July 11, 1984

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650313](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650313)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7210-of-july-11-1984

## Summary
**Law No. 7210 of July 11, 1984**, officially titled *Lei nº 7210, de 11 de julho de 1984* and commonly known as the **Lei de Execução Penal** (Criminal Execution Law), is a Brazilian federal statute that institutes the legal framework for the execution of criminal penalties in Brazil. Promulgated by President João Figueiredo in Brasília, it functions as the primary statute governing the application and enforcement of sentences, establishing the rules for the prison system and the rights of convicts. It is a formal written document classified as a "statute" and applies to the jurisdiction of Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** *Lei nº 7210, de 11 de julho de 1984*
- **Common Name:** Lei de Execução Penal (Criminal Execution Law)
- **Statute Digest:** "INSTITUI A LEI DE EXECUÇÃO PENAL" (Institutes the Criminal Execution Law)
- **Classification:** Statute (formal written document that creates law, including acts and legal norms)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Promulgation Date:** July 11, 1984
- **Promulgating Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (President João Figueiredo)
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7210/1984
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7210`
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/121tnfvt`
- **Official URL:** `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7210.htm`
- **Wikidata Description:** Brazilian law
- **Wikipedia Coverage:** Portuguese language (sitelink count: 1)
- **WikiProject Status:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws
- **Copyright Status:** Public domain (as a statute/edict of government)
- **Library Classification:** Dewey Decimal 342.057, 348.02; Library of Congress Authority ID: sh85127611

## FAQs

**What is the purpose of Law No. 7210?**
The law's digest states that it "INSTITUI A LEI DE EXECUÇÃO PENAL," meaning it establishes the Criminal Execution Law. This designates it as the foundational statute defining how criminal sentences are executed, enforced, and administered within the Brazilian legal system.

**Who approved and promulgated this law?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, with President João Figueiredo serving as the promulgating authority. The promulgation occurred on July 11, 1984.

**What is the legal classification of this document?**
It is classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it acts as a manifestation of statutory law, contains legal norms, and is considered a subclass of written work, document, and rule.

**Where can the full text of the law be accessed?**
The official work is available at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7210.htm`. It is also indexed under the Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7210`.

**Is this law subject to copyright?**
As a statute and an edict of government, the law is in the public domain. This is consistent with the doctrine that official legal documents, including legislative enactments, are not copyrightable and are freely owned by the public.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7210 of July 11, 1984, matters profoundly because it serves as the **legal cornerstone for the Brazilian penal system**, establishing the rules, procedures, and rights governing the execution of criminal sentences. By instituting the *Lei de Execução Penal*, it provides the necessary legal framework for how prisons operate and how convicts' rights are protected during their incarceration.

Its significance is further underscored by its status as a formal **statute**—the primary instrument through which government authority is exercised and recorded. As a manifestation of statutory law, it ensures that the state's power to deprive individuals of liberty is exercised according to defined legal norms rather than arbitrary discretion. The law's public domain status also reinforces the principle of open government, ensuring all citizens have unrestrained access to the rules that govern the penal system. Its inclusion in WikiProject Brazilian Laws highlights its ongoing relevance as a subject of legal and encyclopedic documentation.

## Notable For
- **Foundational Penal Legislation:** Institutes the *Lei de Execução Penal*, the comprehensive legal framework for criminal sentence execution in Brazil.
- **Promulgation by Military-Era President:** Approved by President João Figueiredo, the last president of the Brazilian military government, just prior to the redemocratization process culminating in the 1988 Constitution.
- **Public Domain Status:** Notable as an edict of government, exempt from copyright restrictions to ensure public accessibility.
- **Standardized Legal Identification:** Possesses multiple authority controls and identifiers, including Lexml Brazil ID, Google Knowledge Graph ID, and Library of Congress Authority ID.
- **Global Knowledge Representation:** Serves as an instance of the `schema.org/Legislation` class and is indexed within major knowledge bases and thesauri.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
Law No. 7210 of July 11, 1984, is an instance of a **statute**, a formal written document that creates law. As a statute, it is taxonomically classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It functions as the manifestation of statutory law and contains "legal norms" as its constituent parts. Its creation was caused by the act of legislation, and it applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. The law is recognized as a core legal term and is cataloged under library systems with identifiers such as Library of Congress Authority ID `sh85127611` and Dewey Decimal codes `342.057` and `348.02`.

### Promulgation and Publication
The statute was officially approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with **João Figueiredo** identified as the promulgating authority. The promulgation and publication date is recorded as **July 11, 1984**. The place of publication was **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. The legal citation for this text is **Lei nº 7210/1984**.

### Content and Purpose
The law's digest declares its purpose as "INSTITUI A LEI DE EXECUÇÃO PENAL" (Institutes the Criminal Execution Law). This establishes its role as the definitive legal instrument for the execution of criminal penalties in the country. As a statute, it provides the concrete, written evidence of the legal rules governing the penal system.

### Official Identifiers and Authority Control
The entity is extensively indexed across global and national knowledge systems:
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7210`
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/121tnfvt`
- **Wikidata:** Described as "Brazilian law" with a sitelink count of 1 (Portuguese Wikipedia).
- **Schema.org:** Equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class.
- **Library Authorities:** Library of Congress Authority ID `sh85127611`; Bibliothèque nationale de France ID `120485802`; National Library of Spain ID `XX528757`.
- **German Systems:** GND ID `4020660-9`.
- **Other IDs:** Art & Architecture Thesaurus `300027891`; BNCF Thesaurus 7904; YSO ID 4200; NDL Authority ID `00563423`.

### Access and Availability
The full text of the law is accessible via the official URL: `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l7210.htm`. The language of the work is **Brazilian Portuguese**. As an edict of government, the document is in the **public domain**, ensuring unrestricted public access.

### Institutional and Historical Context
The law was enacted during the presidency of **João Figueiredo**, who served as the last military president of Brazil from 1979 to 1985. The date of promulgation, July 11, 1984, places it in the final year of the military regime, just over four years before the promulgation of the current **Constitution of Brazil** on October 5, 1988. It applies to the entire jurisdiction of Brazil, a federal republic located in South America with a population of approximately 213.4 million and Portuguese as its official language. The law remains a focus of **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, indicating its continued relevance for structured legal documentation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1984-07-11;7210)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7210&ano=1984&data=11/07/1984&ato=c6fUTUU9EeBpWT4ac)
3. LexML Brasil