Class Prisons and Social Reintegration

The Prisons and Social Reintegration course unit addresses the prison phenomenon and the social reintegration of people deprived of liberty, examining imprisonment not only as a means of punishment, but also as a context for intervention, rehabilitation, and preparation for return to society. It focuses on the functioning of the prison system, institutional practices, legal frameworks, and reintegration strategies. Public policies, intervention programmes, psychosocial support, personal and professional development, and family, social, and community networks are also explored. The course adopts a critical and interdisciplinary perspective, integrating contributions from Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, and Law, with the aim of understanding the challenges of reintegration and promoting pathways towards autonomy, citizenship, and social inclusion.

Not applicable

Module I - History and Development of the Prison System Imprisonment as an institution of social control and an ideological system; Prisons, criminal justice policies, and social policies; Execution of custodial sentences and measures; Development of the Portuguese prison system and Human Rights; Functions, challenges, and limitations of contemporary imprisonment. Module II - Imprisonment and Social Reintegration Adaptation to prison, desocialisation, and the effects of deprivation of liberty; Social reintegration: from normalisation to reintegration; Prison treatment and intervention models; Development of personal, social, and emotional skills; Preparation for release and post-release intervention; Intervention assessment and recidivism prevention.

The course unit adopts diverse, student-centred teaching methodologies, combining theoretical lectures, practical case analysis, critical discussion, and experiential learning. Guest experts will contribute to the in-depth exploration of topics such as criminal justice policies, social reintegration, Human Rights, and the analysis of crime, including Directors of Prison Establishments and representatives of the Crime Observatory. A class will also be held at the facilities of O Companheiro, IPSS, providing students with direct contact with intervention practices and social reintegration processes. This approach promotes the integration of theory and practice, develops critical and interdisciplinary thinking, and strengthens professional and social competences, enabling students to gain an integrated understanding of the impact of prison policies and reintegration strategies on individual trajectories and the wider community.

Albino, M. C., Gonçalves, R. A., & Paninho, L. (2007). Manual de acção social prisional. Instituto Nacional de Administração. Freitas, P. (2021). Sistema prisional e reinserção social. In L. M. Nunes & A. Sani (Eds.), Manual de criminologia e vitimologia (pp. 186-192). PACTOR. Garland, D. (1990). Punishment and modern society: A study in social theory. University of Chicago Press. Goffman, E. (1961). Asylums: Essays on the social situation of mental patients and other inmates. Anchor Books. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018). Introductory handbook on the prevention of recidivism and the social reintegration of offenders. United Nations. Wacquant, L. (2009). Punishing the poor: The neoliberal government of social insecurity. Duke University Press.