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This article, based on the theoretical frameworks of word psychosociology and ergology, analyzes the activity of prison officers in a long-term prison and in a psychiatric and judicial hospital in Brazil. Their job includes monitoring, controlling, and punishing the imprisoned person. Two studies were carried out in these institutions through work observation in situ and 34 interviews—25 with prison officers and 9 with those of the psychiatric and judicial hospital—in addition to a documentary research in these two institutions. We interrogate the effects of this work on the body and the subjectivity of these officers. Despite the differences between these institutions, they all present poor working conditions and social harm seriously compromising the workers’ physical and mental health, in particular depression. The article also highlights some issues that call into question public policies for the social reintegration of prisoners in these institutions.