Maternity In Prison: an Analysis of the Situation in Minas Gerais/Brazil

• In Event: The (Stalled) Gender Revolution in Incarceration Contexts

Abstract

The exercise of maternity in Brazilian prisons has increased due to the recent expansion of female incarceration in the country. This study aimed to know and understand the current situation of pregnant and lactating women who are deprived of their liberty in the prison system in Minas Gerais. Descriptive, qualitative research was carried out, with information collected through secondary data. These data were taken from official government portals and from previous studies on this subject, compiling important information, such as custody reports, and complemented with updates on legislation and case law on maternity in prison. In Minas Gerais state there is only one prison that receives pregnant women and infants and it’s located in Vespasiano, a city near the capital, Belo Horizonte. This prison presents a differentiated and innovative structure, which provides a more humanized treatment for the children and for the fulfillment of the mother's pen. In addition, the fact that all the pregnant women and infants in the state are transferred to a single center, hinders social visitation for several preys, increasing the feeling of loneliness of the pen and depriving the children of the conviviality with their family and possibly future tutors.

Authors

• Rosânia Rodrigues de Sousa, Fundação João Pinheiro

• Leticia Godinho, Joao Pinheiro Foundation

• Claudia Monteiro de Lima Nicacio, Fundação João Pinheiro

• Elenice de Souza Oliveira, Montclair State University

• Fernanda Figueiredo Hermsdorff Cordeiro, Fundação João Pinheiro