Abstract

Based on a critical approach, the article analyses two experiences that prioritize, in the production of sociological and criminological knowledge, the voice and work of those who had a direct experience of criminal justice. First, the approach and methodology proposed by the Convict Criminology (hereafter CC) groups are taken into consideration. This innovative strain of thought pays central attention to the voices of those who are serving (or have served) time in prison in the definition of concepts such as crime and punishment. Thus, within the CC, people with experience of conviction play an active role of researchers, rather than of simple objects of the research. With a similar purpose, within an Argentinian Prison of the Province of Buenos Aires, a University Centre called CUSAM – which forms part of the Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) – has been established. In the CUSAM, both people deprived of their liberty and the penitentiary officers working within the facility engage in studying, researching, and defining sociological and criminological issues through their ‘insider perspective’. The article studies the similarities of the two experiences and the innovations introduced by both, in the attempt to let prison and penalty be explained, researched, and studied by those who live and endure it.