The exponential growth of the Brazilian prison population and its social and economic consequences

Abstract

Brazil has experienced, in recent decades, an exponential growth in its prison population, ranking among the countries with the highest number of incarcerated individuals worldwide. This article aims to analyze the factors that contributed to the expansion of incarceration in the country and examine its main social, economic, and legal consequences. A qualitative bibliographic and documentary methodology was adopted, based on specialized literature and official institutional data. The findings indicate that punitive criminal policies, excessive use of pretrial detention, and current drug policy are central elements of this phenomenon. It is concluded that mass incarceration has not significantly reduced crime rates; instead, it intensifies human rights violations, strengthens criminal organizations, and exacerbates structural inequalities, highlighting the need for reforms in the Brazilian penal system.