The New Profile of Sentence Reduction

• In Event: Legal Resistance, Abolition, and Reductions in Punishment

Abstract

The paper studies the deduction of part of the sentence through engagement in different activities. By examining the legislation of many countries, it is evident that efforts have been made to find ways to shorten the time served, aiming to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for reintegration into society. Thanks to the legislator’s innovative vision, remission is applied in various circumstances beyond the traditional ones (work and education). One such case is the voluntary reading of books, which is recommended for its potential to foster connections with the outside world, as highlighted in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules. Additionally, remission can also be granted for participation in sports, learning musical instruments, singing in choirs, playing in orchestras, and even as compensation for poor prison conditions that violate human dignity. The paper sees these reduction options—welcomed as rights rather than mere benefits— as important means not only to the resocialization and humanization process but also to maintain order and discipline within prisons, representing one of the major challenges of contemporary prison policy.

Author

• César Oliveira Barros Leal, Federal University of Ceará