LIVRAMENTO, André Mota do    ROSA, Edinete Maria. Men in jail: life strategy in prison. []. , 11, 2, pp.412-426. ISSN 1809-8908.

This research had the objective of investigating the meanings of life in prison and religious experiences among the inmates in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, who participate, or not, in religious activities. For such purpose, 11 inmates of the penitentiary system were interviewed individually with the aid of a semi structured guideline. All the interviews were recorded in audio, integrally transcribed, and submitted to an analysis by the software Alceste. It was possible to discuss the process of mortification of the self by means of considering their time in prison. Religiosity also seems possibly to be a strategy to deal with imprisonment. It is emphasized the importance of building in the prisons spaces that do not have mortifying effects, so that the penitentiary environment does not become a mechanism to infringe punitive, coercive and moralist practices.

: Social psychology; Prisons; Prisoners; Religious life.

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