CRIMINAL REPRESSION OF ANIMAL ABUSE: SYMBOLIC PUNISHMENT OR REAL SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION?

Abstract

This study analyzes whether criminal repression of maltreatment tends to operate as a symbolic form of punishment or as an instrument associated with social transformation, taking as a central axis the interface between criminal law, health and social assistance. The topic is selected because practices of violence against children, adolescents, older persons and other vulnerable groups persist even in the presence of specific legal provisions and protection discourses. The main objective is to examine, from a bibliographic perspective, the extent to which penalties for maltreatment relate to concrete changes in social relations and to a reduction in tolerance toward violence. The research adopts a qualitative approach, based on bibliographic and documentary procedures, using articles, theses, dissertations and legal norms related to the subject. The results indicate that criminal repression often operates in a fragmented and selective manner, reaching only a portion of maltreatment situations, while also showing potential for integration with protection networks when connected to public policies, professional training and rights-based information. The discussion suggests that penalties gain broader relevance when associated with coordinated measures of care, prevention and monitoring carried out by interdisciplinary teams. It concludes that penal intervention alone does not generate wide social transformation but can contribute to more comprehensive strategies for confronting violence when articulated with other institutional and community responses.