Il carcere come generatore di disabilitazione sociale = Prison as a Generator of Social Disablement

The paper explores the effects of social disablement caused by imprisonment, analyzing how this insti-tution can exacerbate existing disability conditions or create new ones. Through a review of sociologi-cal literature, it highlights how the prison context can significantly contribute to an additional level ofdisablement. Considering the incapacitating effects of imprisonment, it emerges that the prison sys-tem acts as a “producer” of social disablement, intensifying marginalization processes and increasingsocietal disparities. This process is fueled by prison overcrowding, loss of employment and housing,suspensionof social assistance, and the breakdownof familyties, creatinga viciouscyclethat generatesand reinforces social disablement. The article underscores the need for greater attention and researchin the field of disability within the prison environment, considering the dynamic interaction betweenindividual conditions and contextual factors that influence it. Furthermore, it calls for a critical reflec-tion on the social function and practices of prison institutions, proposing a more inclusive approachthat reconsiders penal structures and policies to mitigate the disabling effects of detention.