The symbolic violence and the contemporanean prison

Abstract

This article deals with the different meanings for prison punishment. Such meanings had come from juridical and social scientist’ studies and from Porto Alegre Central Penitentiary (PCPA) as research’ main unit. These meanings and analysis have shown the changing moment of the prison system and contribute to hide the problems due to symbolic violence and cruelty of our contemporaneous society that have been expressed on prison. Key words: prison punishment; symbolic violence.