In a move that has shocked human rights advocates, Rio lawmakers have approved a “Wild West Bonus” for police who kill suspected criminals, reigniting global debate about law enforcement and state power.
Story Highlights
- Rio de Janeiro’s legislature passed a law granting police officers bonuses up to 150% of their salary for killing those labeled as criminals during operations.
- The measure, awaiting the governor’s signature, revives a previously repealed policy tied to increased police violence in the 1990s.
- Human rights groups and activists condemn the bonus, warning it incentivizes lethal force and threatens marginalized communities.
- The law’s passage has triggered legal challenges and public protests, with debate centering on security versus human rights.
Rio’s “Wild West Bonus”: Policy Details and Political Drivers
In September 2025, Rio de Janeiro’s state legislature approved a controversial law that would pay police officers bonuses ranging from 10% to 150% of their salaries for killing suspected criminals during official operations. This measure specifically targets violent confrontations, particularly those involving heavy-caliber weapons in the city’s crime-ridden favelas. The law awaits promulgation by Governor Claudio Castro, a known ally of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro and a vocal proponent of tough-on-crime policies. Proponents argue the policy will deter crime and reward police bravery, but it has quickly drawn fierce opposition both inside Brazil and abroad.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-police-bonus
The “Wild West Bonus” is not entirely new—Rio previously enacted a similar policy from 1995 to 1998, only to repeal it after a marked increase in police killings and widespread condemnation.
Activists outraged after Rio lawmakers approve ‘wild west bonus’ for police who kill ‘criminals’ – The Guardian https://t.co/xY2Q9W8bnn
— Ulrich Ulfhednar (@Johnbak04517850) September 25, 2025
The current version echoes the same approach, with lawmakers citing persistent high crime rates and the need to restore public order as justification. Police unions and certain conservative politicians support the measure, believing that incentivizing aggressive policing sends a strong message to violent criminal organizations. Critics, however, highlight that such incentives risk undermining due process and have historically led to a surge in extrajudicial killings and diminished community trust in law enforcement.
Activist Response and Legal Challenges
Human rights organizations, legal advocates, and activist groups have swiftly condemned the bill as a direct threat to basic civil liberties and the rule of law. They warn that the explicit financial reward for lethal force is almost unprecedented globally and could institutionalize deadly violence as a routine aspect of policing. Black rights lawyers and left-leaning lawmakers have been especially vocal, describing the move as a “widespread massacre in the making” and an attempt to turn death into state policy. The Public Defender’s Office has already filed a legal challenge with Brazil’s Supreme Court, arguing that the bonus undermines constitutional protections and disproportionately endangers marginalized communities that already face frequent and deadly police interventions.
The law’s passage has spurred ongoing protests throughout Rio and prompted statements from international human rights groups. Many point to the legacy of the previous bonus scheme, which resulted in a spike in police killings and was ultimately abandoned due to public backlash and international pressure. For residents of Rio’s favelas—often the front line in violent confrontations between police and organized crime—the stakes are particularly high, with fears of escalation and further erosion of trust in the justice system.
Broader Implications for Security, Liberty, and Society
Should Governor Castro sign the measure into law, the short-term effect is likely to be a dramatic increase in police-related deaths, especially in communities already suffering from high levels of violence and poverty. In the longer term, experts caution that the law could institutionalize aggressive, militarized policing and create lasting damage to Brazil’s international reputation on human rights. The economic impact includes higher police spending and potentially increased legal costs from challenges and compensation claims. Socially, the bonus threatens to deepen the divide between law enforcement and the communities they serve, fueling trauma, mistrust, and ongoing cycles of violence. Politically, the law has further polarized Brazilian society, pitting those who favor iron-fisted security measures against advocates for civil liberties and the rule of law.
Legal scholars and policing experts overwhelmingly oppose the measure, citing research that financial incentives for lethal force consistently lead to more violence and less accountability. While supporters claim that the policy will make communities safer by deterring criminals, no credible data supports this assertion—on the contrary, past experience in Rio and global best practice suggest that such measures only exacerbate the underlying problems. As the law awaits executive action and judicial review, the eyes of the world are on Brazil, with profound questions at stake about government overreach, the sanctity of life, and the proper balance between security and liberty.
Sources:
Rio approves bonuses for police killing criminals – Hurriyet Daily News
Rio de Janeiro approves ‘lejano oeste’ bonus: cops will earn more by killing criminals – Ground News
Rio approves bonuses for police killing criminals – Macau Business
Rio de Janeiro approves bonuses for police killing criminals – Manila Times