MASS INCARCERATION IN SÃO PAULO AND THE DIFFICULTIES FACED IN RESOCIALIZATION ACCORDING TO THE LABELING THEORY OF CRIMINOLOGY

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of mass incarceration in São Paulo and its implications for the reintegration of individuals into society. Using the theoretical lens of labeling criminology, the research examines how the assignment of criminal labels impacts the process of social reintegration. The analysis highlights the difficulties faced by former inmates, marked by stigmas that sometimes perpetuate the criminal cycle. Issues such as a lack of job opportunities, limited access to education, and social stigmatization are discussed, emphasizing the need for public policies that aim not only to punish but also to effectively reintegrate those who have served their sentences. Thus, the article seeks to demonstrate how the labeling theory can impact the social reintegration of ex-offenders.