Abstract In the realm of contemporary penological enquiry, the integration of affect as praxis reveals the transformative potential of lived experience, reconfiguring conventional modes of knowledge production in the criminal legal system. Drawing upon feminist epistemologies and the politics of care, this exploration elucidates how personal narratives, embodied emotions, and affective engagements serve as critical instruments for challenging dehumanising, data-driven methodologies. By transcending reductive metrics such as recidivism rates, the embodied praxis of formerly incarcerated individuals reinvents penal discourse through narrative reconstruction and empathetic resistance. This enquiry interrogates entrenched positivist paradigms, advocating for an inclusive approach that foregrounds the interplay of emotional labour and political agency. Ultimately, the paper underscores the indispensability of affect in reshaping academic enquiry and criminal justice praxis, offering profound insights into the reimagining of transformative justice and the restoration of human dignity. Methodologically, the enquiry bridges theory and praxis, yielding nuanced insights into penal transformation.
Antojado et al. (Tue,) studied this question.