Trabalho prisional no território: contribuições para o desenvolvimento local

Abstract

This study analyzes the integration of prison labor within the framework of the National Prison Labor Policy (PNAT), identifying it as a relevant element in promoting local development. The focus is on investigating the capacity of this public policy to transcend the prison environment and generate positive externalities within the social and economic fabric of the surrounding territory, specifically targeting municipalities in the state of Paraná. The justification for this study lies in the need to evaluate the multidimensional effects of labor for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). Although inherently linked to social reintegration and supported by legal frameworks, this policy lacks empirical evidence demonstrating its actual contribution to territorial development, the enhancement of public management, and the improvement of safety indicators. The primary objective of this work was to examine how the operationalization of PNAT relates to the performance of Paraná’s municipalities between 2017 and 2022. For this purpose, the study investigated possible correlations between the supply of prison work opportunities and the Municipal Development Index (IPDM/IPARDES), as well as general indices of violence and criminality, with a specific focus on penitentiary recidivism rates. This is an applied research of an exploratorydescriptive nature, employing a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) based on bibliographic (integrative review) and documentary research. The statistical analysis (Multilevel Modeling/Pearson Correlation Matrix) focused on the intersection between the evolution of prison labor supply, municipal IPDM, and indicators of violence, crime, and recidivism. The supporting theoretical framework was Institutional Theory, which allowed for the analysis of interactions between prison institutions and the territory. The results indicate a positive and significant correlation, suggesting that the increase in prison labor acts as an ‘accelerator’ for local development. However, a direct causal relationship between increased labor participation and a subsequent reduction in municipal violence and crime rates was not proven.