Comparing quality of life in public and private prisons in Chile: implications for reintegration

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.615

Keywords:

Quality of life, prisons, public, private, Chile

Abstract

This article compares the quality of prison life in public and private prisons in Chile and critically analyses the implications of the findings for reintegration. We employ a mixed methodology of data collection based on a random survey conducted in 20 prisons in different regions of Chile (n = 1159), combined with qualitative information obtained from 113 key informant interviews in the same prisons. Our results show that, although private prisons have improved the living conditions of inmates compared to public prisons and have better indicators than public prisons in several aspects, there are still a number of shortcomings in the quality of interventions aimed at the reintegration of inmates.

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Author Biographies

  • Guillermo Sanhueza, Loyola University Chicago

    School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, USA, and Vice-Rectorate for Research and Innovation, Arturo Prat University, Chile.

    PhD Social Work & Sociology, University of Michigan

    His research interests are prison life, social reintegration, and programme evaluation.

     

  • Liza Zúñiga, University of Chile

    Programa de Doctorado Interdisciplinario en Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile.

    University of Strathclyde, Master of Science Applied Educational and Social Research

    The University of Edinburgh, Master's Degree, Criminology and Criminal Justice

    Sus áreas de investigación son seguridad pública, crimen organizado y sistemas penitenciarios.Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences, University of Chile.

    University of Strathclyde, Master of Science Applied Educational and Social Research

    The University of Edinburgh, Master's Degree, Criminology and Criminal Justice

    His areas of research are public safety, organised crime and prison systems.

     

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Published

2025-08-15

Issue

Section

Criminological studies

How to Cite

Sanhueza, G., & Zúñiga, L. (2025). Comparing quality of life in public and private prisons in Chile: implications for reintegration. Revista Criminalidad, 67(2), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.615