As origens do trabalho carcerário brasileiro: as luzes no Código Criminal de 1830 e na Casa de Correção do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The present work aimed at a dialectical historical materialist analysis of the origins of prison labor in Brazil. For this endeavor, a look was made at the first legislation for which the prison sentence with work is provided for, that is, the Criminal Code of 1830. In addition, the first Brazilian prison institution to be used as a fundamental part of the study apply the new form of penal repression, therefore, the Casa de Correcção do Rio de Janeiro. Thus, with a critical eye and supported by critical criminology, a break with the liberal paradigm of idealizing prison sentences with work was proposed, to overcome the “declared functions” of the new penal modality in 19th century Brazil to achieve “real functions” ”. Therefore, based on contributions already acquired by historical materialism, it was possible to reflect and think about the purposes of this new criminal political project. That is, perceiving as some authors who proposed to study the origins of Brazilian prison work, that there was a liberal cry for progress and at the same time a desire to maintain the current social order.