According to local NGOs, in 56 of the 190 Italian prisons the overcrowding rate exceeds 150%.
The recent approval by the Italian Parliament of a new law to improve prison conditions It has provoked great political debate in the country.
The so-called “prison decree”, which aims to address long-standing problems in the Italian prison system, particularly overcrowding, promises an increase in prison staff and a simplified process for early release, among other measures.
Although some have applauded the decree, others maintain that will not be enough to solve the real problems that afflict the system.
Defenders of the decree focus especially on the center-right party Forza Italiawhich is part of Meloni’s coalition government. They consider it a step forward in the fight against overcrowding and the alarming number of inmates who take their own lives.
Its supporters argue that for too long The issue of prison reform has been ignoredand that previous governments have not made substantial progress.
“The overcrowding and suicides committed in prison These are serious problems that are being addressed for the first time in 15 years following the lack of progress by left-wing parties in this area,” says Forza Italia MP Pietro Pittalis. “The protection of rights and security are the main priorities.”
However, despite the Government’s optimism, the decree has drawn harsh criticism of human rights organizations and prison reform advocates.
Measurements only scratch the surface
The NGO Antigone, which independently monitors detention centers, is one of the most critical. With an overcrowding rate in Italian prisons of 130% and 65 suicides recorded this year alone, Antigone maintains that the new measures are insufficient to achieve meaningful change and amount to little more than political signaling.
Michele Miravalle, who makes regular visits to the centers on behalf of Antigone, told ‘Euronews’: “The intervention of the Government in this matter was necessary, but the point is that, to fulfill a mere political objective, the approach that has been elected It is not systemic and will not change the situation“.
“In some parts, the bill seems disappointing. It’s like trying to repair a house that has structural problems and is about to fall down; In this case, the house represents the prison system. “Instead of intervening in the foundation, only the windows are fixed.”
According to Antigone, in 56 of the 190 detention centers, the overcrowding rate exceeds 150%and only 38 have not yet reached their maximum capacity.
But the problem is not limited to Italy. The Council of Europe’s 2023 annual criminal report on the prison population highlighted Italy as one of several EU countries suffering from severe overcrowding in their prisons, along with Cyprus, Romania, France, Belgium, Hungary and Slovenia.
Summer worsens conditions in prisons
“For 30 years, both in the United States and Europe, it has been decided that criminal law and prison systems should be used to resolve a series of issues that have nothing to do with thembut rather can be described as social problems,” says Miravalle. “This includes issues such as drug abuse, mental health and poverty“.
For now, prospects for change are slim. Some of the provisions of the Italian decree can take months or more to apply fully, and the immediate effects on prison conditions are likely to be minimal.
And as the summer months bring higher temperaturesthe already harsh conditions in overcrowded prisons are expected to deteriorate further.
The debate on the prison decree highlights a fundamental question: can the Italian prison system be gradually reformed or its problems demand a radical overhaul? For now, the country can only wait to see what impact this latest measure has.
