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The choice of the term “sanction” allows us to consider prison sentences in their educational dimension. This article sets out the relational and institutional conditions necessary for the restoration of a prisoner’s self-esteem, freedom in the midst of conditioning, and his own sense of responsibility. This requires supporting the prisoner’s autonomy from the outset and fostering the maintenance and development of his social ties. Recourse to religion requires discernment, to prevent the most vulnerable from being manipulated by others. Christian charity, in addition to the support of God and the community, invites the prisoner to rely on the figure of Christ to rebuild his freedom to love in the midst of the violence and suffering of incarceration, in order to prepare positively for his future.