Dette et droits. Que signifie « payer sa peine » dans les prisons de Brasília

Abstract

In this article, we present an ethnographic material and our interpretations of the meanings that people deprived of liberty in Brasília (Federal District) give to their daily experiences, paying particular attention to local meanings of the category « paying one’s sentence » (pagar pena). On the basis of data collected in the field, we argue that « paying one’s sentence » defines an idea of moral responsibility enabling our interlocutors to reposition themselves as moral beings who certainly owe a debt to society – or to « God » – but who are also worthy individuals, holders of rights.

Keywords

• prison
• « paying one’s sentence »
• « pulling one’s sentence »
• citizenship
• debt
• Brazil