EFFECTIVENESS OF CUSTODIAL SENTENCES IN CRIME PREVENTION: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN LATIN AMERICAN URBAN CONTEXTS

Abstract

The effectiveness of custodial sentences in crime prevention is one of the most relevant debates in contemporary criminal law, especially in the urban contexts of Latin America, where structural inequalities and prison overcrowding limit the impact of punitive policies. This study aimed to evaluate, through a systematic review under the PRISMA 2020 methodology, the available scientific evidence on the relationship between incarceration, recidivism and crime prevention. The search was carried out in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, identifying 36 initial documents and selecting 14 final articles that met the inclusion criteria: thematic relevance, quantitative or empirical approach and link with urban contexts. The results show that custodial sentences show limited effectiveness in reducing crime and recidivism, due to factors such as prison overcrowding, lack of reintegration programs and institutional weakness. It concludes that crime prevention in Latin America requires a comprehensive approach that combines punishment, rehabilitation, and social policies aimed at inclusion and equity, recognizing that incarceration alone does not guarantee a sustainable decrease in crime.