Punição e dignidade

: considerações sobre a pena de prisão e a realidade prisional

Abstract

This dissertation assesses the intersection between punishment and the principle of human dignity, with a special focus on prison sentences and the conditions of the Portuguese prison system. The research begins with an etymological and historical approach to the concept of prison sentences, moving on to a discussion of general and special prevention theories. Although criminal legislation, namely Article 40 of the Penal Code, advocates social reintegration as one of the fundamental objectives of punishment, recidivism rates and the persistence of undignified conditions in prisons reveal a dissonance between the normative ideal and reality. A reform of prison policy is proposed, through the reinforcement of non-custodial measures and investment in dignified conditions in prisons, aiming to achieve a system that complies with the preventive purposes of punishment, without compromising human dignity.

Date of Award	29 Jul 2025
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Sandra Tavares (Supervisor)