O TRABALHO DO AGENTE PENITENCIÁRIO: OS PARADOXOS ENTRE A PUNIÇÃO E A RESSOCIALIZAÇÃO

Abstract

Social control system adopted by modern Western societies has a characteristic punishment through incarceration. With the advancement of laws based on the full guarantee of the principles advocated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, prisons, believed to be fenced off spaces such rights, they have become targets of studies and scientific debates in various fields of knowledge. However, a key issue to think about the realities of prison was, and remains neglected by the scientific community: the prison workers, especially the Agent Penitentiary (AP). In this paper we seek to question the historical and social function of this professional, with the field of study the Penitentiary Complex of Guarapuava. To this end it sought first to deal with the historical trajectory of the laws governing the AP profession, in contrast to the institutional role of modern prisons. Subsequently sought the understanding of current issues and discussions in relation to that profession, highlighting the proposals that are on the agenda at the level of national regulations. And finally unravel the social representations of the AP about their social and personal position as a result of the profession. For this, we primarily used the theory of Social Representations, using semi-structured interviews in six APs in order to make family his speeches, knowing the symbolic universe of professionals, comprising thus the legitimacy of their practices. At first, it is clear that befall the AP two potentially controversial and antithetical duties: to punish and re-socialize. Highlights the perception that the profession is not well seen by society. And that healthrelated problems as well as the tendency to AP social isolation are directly related to insecurity and fear that is present inside and outside the prison environment. We emphasize the absence of the state in promoting public policies aimed at addressing these problems found.