THE FAILURE OF PENAL EXECUTION IN BRAZIL: IMPACTS ON PUBLIC SECURITY AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION

Abstract

The penal execution system in Brazil, as established by Law No. 7,210/1984 (Law on Penal Execution – LEP), aims to ensure the dignity of convicted individuals and promote their social reintegration. However, there is a clear gap between the legal provisions and the reality of the prison system, which is marked by severe structural and functional collapse. This research analyzes the main deficiencies of penal execution in the country and their impacts on public security and the resocialization of inmates. The methodology is qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive, based on bibliographic and documentary review, drawing on classical and contemporary works (Bitencourt, Zaffaroni, Foucault), as well as reports from the CNJ and DEPEN (2023–2024) and national and international scientific articles. Sources published between 2010 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, focusing on penal execution and reintegration processes, were included, while outdated studies or those lacking academic rigor or relevance to the Brazilian context were excluded. The results reveal serious structural failures, such as overcrowding, resource shortages, degrading conditions, and high levels of violence—factors that undermine dignity and hinder the implementation of education, work, and professionalization programs. The analysis shows the low effectiveness of the current model in both resocialization and public security promotion. It is concluded that an urgent structural reform is needed to align the prison system with the principles of the LEP, through public policies that prioritize educational and labor opportunities, reduce criminal recidivism, and strengthen social justice within the Democratic Rule of Law.