DO CICLO DO CRIME AO CÍRCULO DE PAZ: A APLICABILIDADE DOS CÍRCULOS RESTAURATIVOS EM UNIDADES PRISIONAIS

Abstract

The understanding of restorative justice, as it has developed in Brazil, requires, besides the assimilation of its basic principles, knowledge about the techniques and practices through which it materializes. In Brazil restorative justice does not present itself as a proposal to replace the traditional model of justice. On the contrary, it is within the Judiciary itself that it finds room to flourish, as a resource for the improvement of the jurisdictional performance, in the expectation of promoting social peace by means other than the still predominant adversarial format. The collaborative and pacifying approach to social conflicts is accomplished by a variety of methods, such as the victim-offender process, the family conference, and the restorative circle. So far the juvenile justice system and specialized domestic violence courts have been the most receptive environment to restorative methods. Thus, the question that guides this research, referring to the applicability of the restorative circles in prison units and to the influence of this method in coping with the negative aspects that contribute to the maintenance of the criminological cycle. In addition to the bibliographical research, this article is based on the empirical experience of Project Awakening, which carries out reflective groups and peacemaking circles with prisoners from the Goianésia-GO Prison Unit. The findings of the experiment studied point not only to the viability of the restorative circles in prison units, but also their capacity to serve as an instrument of protection and assistance to the prisoner in prison.