A BRIEF HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HEINOUS CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

Abstract

This study analyzes the historical evolution of punitive practices and their consolidation as instruments of social control in contemporary societies. The research demonstrates that the transition from corporal and public punishments to modern prison systems does not merely represent a civilizational advance, but rather a restructuring of power relations. Based on Michel Foucault’s perspective, the prison is understood as a device of surveillance, discipline, and normalization of individuals. Émile Durkheim’s contributions help explain the symbolic function of punishment in reaffirming collective consciousness and social cohesion. Additionally, the work discusses Loïc Wacquant’s analysis, which argues that the expansion of the penal state parallels the reduction of social policies, resulting in the criminalization of poverty and the mass incarceration of vulnerable populations.The methodology adopted is qualitative and grounded in bibliographic research that includes classical and contemporary works from sociology, philosophy, and law. The study concludes that punishment serves political and social functions beyond crime control, operating as a mechanism for managing marginality and reinforcing structural inequalities. A critical understanding of this process is essential for developing more democratic and inclusive public policies and legal practices committed to the protection of rights.