A contribuição do método aplicado pelas Associações de Proteção e Assistência aos Condenados (APAC) para a ressocialização das apenadas no sistema brasileiro: o caso de Governador Valadares

Abstract

Women worldwide have always had to deal with gender inequality present in society. In the prison environment, the reality is no different. The precarity already observed in the traditional prison system is even more intense in women's penitentiaries because institutions and public policies are still primarily focused on the male population, disregarding the specificities surrounding women. Faced with the chaotic scenario in which traditional prisons find themselves, Associations for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts (APACs) emerge, assisting the Judiciary in the execution of custodial sentences, emphasizing the rehabilitative purpose of the penalty, based on the 12 elements that constitute its method. In this study, the range of actions employed by the APAC of Governador Valadares to compose the reintegration process of the inmates was analyzed, relating it to the main needs faced by a woman when reintegrating into society, in order to identify possible gaps. The research was conducted through interviews with managers and inmates assisted by the institution, in addition to observation by the researcher, who spent several days in the institution. The results allowed for the identification of how the APAC in question prepares the inmates to deal with the situations they may face upon leaving prison. To address the stigma of being a former inmate and to restore the psychological well-being of the inmates, the APAC invests in strengthening psychological support during the sentence, offering sessions with a psychologist, various religious activities, investing in the method of human appreciation, and placing trust in the inmates, as well as encouraging frequent contact with volunteers and family members. To assist in the challenge of reintegrating into the family, the APAC method insists on fostering closer relationships between inmates and family members even during the sentence, as well as preparing the family to receive the inmates so that they do not encounter a hostile and disorganized environment when returning to the family circle. Finally, to assist in re-entering the job market, the APAC offers vocational training courses, compulsory regular education, work therapy, and a structured routine of activities throughout the day. However, three critical points were identified: the lack of diversification in work therapy, the need for the purchase of medications, and the interaction among the inmates. The results of this project serve as guidance for the development of new activities by the institution, providing a more comprehensive process of reintegration for the assisted inmates.