Documentary Research in the NEV Collection: Methodologies for the Study of Prison Expansion.

• Grant number: 25/23754-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: February 23, 2026
• End date: April 11, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Sociology - Other specific Sociologies
• Principal Investigator: Sergio França Adorno de Abreu
• Grantee: Penelopy Edwiges Batista Chaves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This work plan aims to provide training in documentary research to support the ongoing study on the socio-environmental dimensions of incarceration and prison expansion in Maranhão. Given the centrality of primary source analysis for this research, training at NEV/USP, a reference center with a vast historical collection in this area, is essential. The objective is to acquire skills in archival organization and source analysis, guided by the methodologies and techniques implemented at NEV and seeking references on prison specialization, in order to strengthen the methodological basis of research on the prison system in Maranhão.Work plan MethodologyThe research will adopt a qualitative approach, based on documentary research and historical sociology, and will be structured around three main axes:1.Documentary and Archival Research: Practical immersion in the NEV's historical collection to apply inventory, cataloging, and indexing techniques, understanding the logic of organizing a consolidated research archive. This stage will be complemented by a visit to the Public Archives of the State of São Paulo to consult related documentary collections.2.Review and Bibliographic Research: Investigation and analysis of texts on historical sociology and archival research methodology, with a focus on prison specialization in Brazil, and review of national and international literature on "Cities, organized crime, and prisons" to contextualize the documentary findings and compare the Brazilian scenario with broader discussions on the spatialization of punishment.3.Content Analysis: Practical exercise analyzing a specific set of documents, connecting empirical material to theoretical discussions by NEV research groups. (AU)