Abstract
The penitentiary reality and drug market are important social problems, when considering criminality and Brazilian public safety, with great economic, social and health impact. This study describes the profile of the population deprived of liberty in the southeastern region of Brazil between 2009 and 2019, the profile of the prison population convicted of drug-related crimes, according to Law No. 11.343/2006 and the transmissible diseases that affect this population. This is a descriptive documentary study, based on secondary data from reports issued by the Information System of the National Penitentiary Department (SISDEPEN) and by the Federal Police on the statistics of drugs seized in Brazil. Variables studied were sex, age group, education, color, communicable diseases prevalent in the penitentiary environment and amount of drugs seized. Southeast is the region of the country with the highest number of drug-related crimes and the third region with the highest rate of incarcerations. In the region, the population deprived of liberty is mostly male (92.43%), between 18 and 24 years old (29.95%), brown (41.52%) and with incomplete primary education (47. 00%). Tuberculosis was the predominant disease in the prison environment (30.44%). The increase in the prison population of individuals convicted of drug-related crimes in the region stands out, and the amount of illicit drugs seized, with higher proportion for marijuana (29.53%). followed by cocaine (15.59%). This study contributes to better planning of public policies aimed at this population, in order to reduce associated social problems and avoid further damage to the community as a whole.