Processos criminais em matéria ambiental no âmbito da justiça estadual paraibana: a lei, o processo, o estado, os réus e os crimes

Abstract

Environmental crimes have been a recurring subject of political discussion since the redemocratization of Brazil in the 80’s. The protection of the environment is a fundamental principle of our republic, and it has gained great economic and political relevance. Environmental crime is the most extreme side of environmental protection and investigation and litigation in this area are more common than you can imagine. Associated to this is the ongoing expansion of litigation through the online filing of lawsuits in the Courts online systems, that were boosted by the Covid-19 pandemic and its ongoing demand for social distancing. This dissertation focused on 729 lawsuits filed on the Paraiba State Court online system concerning environmental crimes. This data allowed us to trace a territorial map of the distribution of environmental crime lawsuits throughout the state and understand who the actors involved in the litigation are: the accusation, the defendants and the judges. Lastly, we analyze some cases related to domestic ownership of native or wild animals in Campina Grande and its implications, especially considering the decriminalization of such cases. We aimed to bring to light relevant points concerning the processing of environmental crimes in the Paraiba State Court online system once environmental issues are not only a concern to the State but means great economic and social impact for those who are accused in such lawsuits.