Carrieres sportives en milieu carceral : L'apprentissage d'un nouveau rapport a soi

Abstract

The analysis of prisoners' sportive programs over time indicates that the benefits of introducing sports in prisons are not only occupational and recreational. Even though access to the most educational activities remains selective, the outlook on the application of sportive programs within the prison environment shows that during their sentence, prisoners develop interest and motivation towards sportive techniques and all their related requirements. Closely depending on their positions within the penal system, prisoners involved with those programs grow into deeper levels of physical and mental commitment towards their chosen sportive activity, and also develop different perspectives towards themselves and their institutional environment. Therefore, these observations lead to a creative approach of sentences, since despite the complexity of defining the impact of such sportive programs on the reintegration process after prison, the fact that prisoners evolve from their initial representations around sports reveals new possible dynamics within the penal experience.