BRAZILIAN PRISON SYSTEM AND HUMAN RIGHTS: CHALLENGES, PUBLIC POLICIES, AND PERSPECTIVES FOR HUMANIZATION

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the structural and sanitary challenges of the Brazilian prison system and the effectiveness of public policies in guaranteeing the human rights of the incarcerated population. A scoping review was conducted, mapping scientific and documentary production up to 2025 in databases such as Scielo, PubMed, Lilacs, and Google Scholar, focusing on articles, legislation, and official documents related to prison health and human rights in Brazil. The results reveal a severe crisis in the prison system, characterized by overcrowding, poor conditions of facilities, and violations of fundamental rights, especially concerning access to health care. Despite legal guarantees present in the Federal Constitution, the Penal Execution Law, and the National Policy for Comprehensive Health Care for People Deprived of Liberty (PNAISP), the implementation of these norms faces political, financial, and institutional barriers that compromise the comprehensiveness and humanization of care. High prevalences of infectious diseases and mental disorders stand out, worsened by the adverse prison environment and the lack of coordination between health and justice systems. It is concluded that strengthening intersectoral integration, expanding professional training, and improving public policies are essential to ensure the right to health and dignity of inmates, contributing to reducing inequalities and promoting more humane and effective care in the Brazilian prison context.