it is no longer a functioning prison, and it is now open to be visited by the public, though much of it was demolished in the mid 1990s - its ruins continue to capture the public's imagination with their legends, mysteries and intrigue, especially after the film 'quase dois irmãos' which was filmed there, documenting the birth of the now outlawed organization 'comando vermelho.'

interwoven with the story of dois rios is that of the lazareto, originally a coffee plantation, the main house was purchased by the government in 1884 and converted into a quarantine area for immigrants just arrived from europe.

in 1940, the lazareto was converted into a prison and renamed instituto penal cândido mendes, with convicts being transferred from dois rios - then in 1954, lazareto was deactivated and all the prisoners were sent back to dois rios - in 1963, the building was mostly torn down, and though the remains are open for limited visitation, entering is prohibited for the guests' safety.