This research aims at identifying the main factors that lead to the institutionalization of reoffenders and to establish actions to favorably interfere in this reality. The methodology used was of qualitative nature, trough 10 semi-structured interviews made with convicts in a prison in the north of Rio Grande do Sul state, in 2005. The results pointed out the importance of convicts' protection mechanisms, factors that lead to the non-institutionalization, such as the family, a job or occupation in the prison, their will to rehabilitate, and their non-identification with the criminal identity. The convicts that are prone to institutionalization are the ones who have psychopathic traits, have been abandoned by their families, have absorved values in their environment, have a previous history of time spent into custody, have lost family ties, have had a previous criminal career, or have no prospects. As a conclusion, we consider the need to establish alternative punishment for petty crimes as well as precocious intervention work for convicts in an institutionalization process.
Social Support; Institutionalization; Human Rights; Mental Health