Revisiting the sociology of imprisonment during pandemic times in Chile

This article explores how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped prison life in Chile, deepening existing deprivations while also revealing new forms of agency and institutional adaptation. Based on 87 in-depth interviews with people in prison, their families, prison staff, and officials, the study examines how pandemic-related restrictions intensified the ‘pains of imprisonment’ and gave rise to novel forms of suffering, such as the loss of rehabilitation and fear of social death. Drawing on prison sociology, the analysis shows how individuals coped with these intensified conditions, sometimes through collective care and compliance, at other times through subtle or overt resistance. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of prison order, where legitimacy and communication became central to managing compliance. By revisiting core sociological concepts of coping, resistance, and authority, this study contributes to broader debates about incarceration during crises and offers insights into how prisons, and those within them, respond to systemic shocks.