Introduction:

Although the justice sector is an important field for occupational therapy, few studies address the scope and professional experiences of occupational therapists in Colombia.

Objective:

To provide information in order to understand the development of occupational therapy in the Colombian penitentiary system.

Materials and methods:

Qualitative research with systematic review of the literature and application of seven surveys to experts.

Results:

Training and productive social inclusion actions, as well as strengthening of self-care and leisure time among the prison population are priorities, being workshops for vocational training the most frequently used strategy. Models of human and Canadian occupation in relation to occupational performance are frequent. The academy, the social problems and the legislative development are references that lead the way of the professional career in the sector. Actions with families and networks should be strengthened, and changes in the perception of the weaknesses of professional experiences should be manifested by occupational therapists regarding their work in penitentiaries.

Conclusions:

Occupational therapy should be strengthened in relation to the justice sector, and occupation should be recognized as a fundamental axis in re-socializing processes. Sectorial paths and related normative contents make employment visible as a strategy and indicator of changes in a population that, after transgressing the legal norms, can contribute to society through occupational and productive potential.

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