The present research aims at the analysis of the current conditions of prisoners' work made possible by the current Penitentiary System of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The prison work constitutes one of the possibilities for the (re)insertion of prisoners in society. In this sense, the present work seeks to discuss the meaning and the limitations of the (re)socialization under a sociological point of view. Prison work should be understood within the context of a society constituted as a living organism, in which its disposition varies according to the political-economic-social systems established by the state power. In this context, the consolidation of the neoliberal system, the emergence of new means of production and labour relations, as well as social policies influence the policies directed to the Prison System, in which prison labour is included. Similarly, the analysis of sociological causes - related to criminality, social insecurity and stigmatization - becomes imperative for the knowledge of the difficulties surrounding the theme and for policies aimed at the implementation of labor therapy to be effectively applied in the Penitentiary System.