Abstract
Through the perspective of the labeling theory, this paper presents a review of the studies produced in Brazil, about the functioning of the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on police actions. The literature review indicates that young, black and poor individuals are the most susceptible to be labeled as criminals by the police and the judiciary, institutionalizing the disjunctive citizenship. The results enabled us to conclude that there is a mismatch between the ideal of democracy and the reality built through the institutions that are in charge of the production of justice in the country, contributing to the reification of social inequalities, a fact that hinders the development of democracy in the country.
Keywords:
Labeling theory; Democracy; Institutions; Criminal justice system