Law as a weapon

Grounded in Bourdieu’s field theory and drawing from qualitative research conducted in a Northern Italy prison, this study aims to investigate how prisoners strategically utilize the law, rules, and regulations within the prison field. The law is conceptualized as a form of objectified cultural capital – a weapon wielded by prisoners to achieve specific objectives. Findings from this research reveal that despite the challenges and constraints prisoners encounter when asserting their rights through legal means, the utilization of the law is intricately linked to navigating the operational logic of the prison field. By aligning their actions with this logic, prisoners seek to mitigate unintended consequences and maximize benefits.