Trabalho prisional: um estudo na perspectiva dos apenados.

Abstract

The penitentiary work has as its goal to prepare the inmate for his reinsertion into social conviviality and also his professionalization. Considering the importance of the theme, the present research aims to analyze the work done by the inmates who work at the study site of Campina Grande’s Raimundo Asfora Regional Penitentiary – Serrotão. Therefore, our specific objectives of this research are to identify the type of work done in the studied prison unit; to point out the motivations that lead or not inmates to exercise some function; to verify, in the inmate’s perception, the contributions of the work exerted when he is released; and finally, ascertain whether penitentiary work improve their relationships inside the prison. The theoretical foundation of this study is based on the Penal Execution Law (Penal Execution Law nº 7.210 of 07/ 11/ 84 – PEL), which provides the guarantees and duties inherited to the inmate’s work; in addition to studies related to the theme from the perspective of several authors. As for the methodology used in this research, it has both qualitative and quantitative character and descriptive character. For the data collection, it was used a structured questionnaire with 13 questions concerning the type of work done and its characteristics, the motivations for the penitentiary work and, finally, the inmate’s perception regarding the realization of his labor activities. In addition to the questionnaire, participant observation was used. Within the universe of 70 penitentiary workers, 53 answered questionnaires were collected, which corresponds to a sample of 75,71% of the population defined as working population. As for the data analysis, it was done by the inmates’ perception regarding the work done in the penitentiary, by the author’s observation and inference and by empiric works of other authors. As for the results, it is evident that prisons do not have the necessary conditions for penitentiary work and the same presents itself as a privilege, a perk and as a factor of order and discipline and it is characterized by maintenance activities of prison units, with a workload superior to 10h a day, with low payment, varying between R$ 100,00 and R$ 400,00, inferior to what is demanded by law, besides being an activity seen in a bad light by the non-working inmates, but which can help in the acquisition of benefits, inside and outside prison. Even under the circumstances, the inmates present themselves satisfied and interested in its realization, recognizing that this activity improves their social relationships with the prison staff. And finally, the lack of public politics that enable penitentiary work emerge as an obstacle for the subject addressed.