The Impact of Pretrial Detention on Penal Selectivity and Mass Incarceration in Brazil

Abstract

Thisarticle examines theimpactofpretrialdetentionontheexacerbationof
penal selectivityandthephenomenonofmassincarceration in Brazil, focusingon its
disproportionateeffectsonvulnerablepopulations, particularly Black
individualsandthose living in poverty. Using a qualitative approach, thestudyemploys
a bibliographic review andcriticalanalysisofsecondary data tounderstandhowthe use
ofpretrialdetentionreinforcesthecycleof social and penal exclusion,
highlightingtheracistandunequalstructureofBrazil's justice system.The paperprovides
a theoreticalanalysisof penal selectivityandmassincarceration, progressingto a
criticaldiscussionoftheeffectsofpretrialdetentiononperpetuatingprisonovercrowdingand
humanrightsviolations. Furthermore, it reflectsontheinadequacyofpretrialdetention as
a procedural tool andproposeslegislativealternativesandpublic policies
aimedatmitigating its impacts, such as the use
ofalternativeprecautionarymeasuresandprioritizingstrategiesthatpromote racial
andsocioeconomicequity in the criminal justice system. The
studyconcludesthatpretrialdetention, ratherthanfulfilling its
purposeofmaintainingpublicorder, reinforcespunitivecultureandstructuralexclusion,
underscoringtheurgentneed for its reformand a reorientationofthe criminal justice
system.