Overcoming Prison? Analysis of the Educational Proposal for Incarcerated People in Police-Free Prisons in Brazil

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Abstract

The debate on prison education in Brazil is widening amidst ongoing mass imprisonment, particularly affecting young Afro-descendants. Conservative policies view prison as merely punitive, while others advocate for educational experiences. This article analyzes the educational proposal of the Associations of Protection and Assistance to the Condemned, which manage "prisons without armed police," accepting individuals accused of violent crimes and reporting reduced recidivism and lower costs. The analysis is based on a critical reading of the founder’s dissemination book. The research suggests that prisons should function as educational communities, necessitating additional training for officials, prisoners, and volunteers. Informal educational processes among inmates and with the outside world should also be considered, alongside the simultaneous education of society's institutions.

Author

• Sergio Grossi, CUNY - John Jay College of Criminal Justice