Tempus Fugit : réflexion sur la notion de temporalité en milieu carcéral

Abstract

The following communication deals with the psychiatric cares in detention centers. The author intended to highlight some peculiarities of the psychological practice in prisons through his practical experience acquired within the field of Substance Abuse Counseling and from an earlier experience with the psychological and medical Department in jail, to his current practice as an expert psychologist. After a brief presentation of how those intervening with inmates are organized, and what is the state of psychiatric cares in prison, the author chose to use the notion of temporality in order to specify important points about the practice of a psychologist in Detention Centers. What are those gaps concretely noticed between the “pure gold” of the psychotherapy so dear to Freud and “alloys” made by therapists? The notion of temporality could bring an answer to this question, as it appears to be a central one during these cares and assessments that take place in those locations dedicated to the privation of liberty. Through concrete examples such as the immediate environment or the way the prisoner psyche elaborates during his incarceration, the author aims to describe how those external conditions could impact the psychological treatment itself. He will also question the ambiguous idea of “compulsory cares” that binds nowadays the care and the punishment.