PUNIÇÃO OU RESSOCIALIZAÇÃO? A DUALIDADE DO SISTEMA PRISIONAL

This article aims to discuss the duality of the prison system in relation to punishment and resocialization, since the prison, initially, was conceived as an institution for punishment but, following historical changes, began to simultaneously act as a space of resocialization, by promoting the social reintegration of individuals and contributing to the reintegration of rehabilitated people into society, instead of worsening their initial conditions. The research is based on the contributions of classic works, incorporates references to Cultural Studies and Human Rights. The methodology employed is a bibliographic review, emphasizing recent studies that explore the relationship between punishment and resocialization within the prison context. The article is organized to address the evolution of punishment sthrough out history—from ancient times to the present—followed by a discussion on the transformation of imprisonment structures and the shift from punishment to resocialization. This analysis demonstrates that, despite significant progress in the prison system’s focus on resocialization, a long way remains to fully achieve this objective. The analysis suggests that the effective implementation of resocialization programs requires both cultural and structural changes within prison institutions, as well as continued support from society and the state.