Turmoil in Italian Prisons: Overcrowding and Riots Amid a Surge in Suicides
On August 15, a day when several Italian politicians visited penitentiary institutions, tragedy struck as a prisoner committed suicide in the Parma prison. This somber incident was underscored by a riot among inmates in the Lorusso e Cutugno prison in Turin, marking a continuation of unrest in prisons across Italy during the summer months. Overcrowding and sweltering temperatures have compounded the already dire conditions within these institutions.
The suicide in Parma marks the alarming 67th such case of this year in Italy, and the third recorded at this specific facility. The deceased was a 36-year-old Tunisian national who had been transferred from Ascoli Piceno prison just a day prior. He was serving a definitive sentence of three years and eight months, after which he was to be expelled from Italy. His transfers between various facilities in Marche, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria were reportedly for reasons of security and order.
The riot at the Turin prison, located in the outskirts of the Vallette neighborhood, resulted in injuries to six prison police officers. Two of these officers were also poisoned by smoke from mattresses set ablaze by inmates. The unrest initiated with a fight among inmates who refused to return to their cells, subsequently spreading to other prison wings. Amidst the chaos, an inmate even attempted an escape.
On Ferragosto, disturbances were not confined to Turin alone. Across Italy, there were reports of protests, fights, and assaults against prison police. In Biella, inmates caused a ruckus by banging on cell doors, participating in a protest organized by the anarchist group, the Anti-Repression Fund of the Western Alps. This protest escalated into a fight resulting in injuries to two prison police officers. In Ivrea prison, another inmate attacked an officer, using a desk as a weapon.
In Pescara penitentiary, five inmates set a cell on fire, wounding four prison police officers in the process. Meanwhile, a violent altercation in the La Spezia prison left one inmate hospitalized after suffering severe burns from boiling oil.
Prison police unions have voiced their concerns about the safety conditions for officers, following a series of riots and assaults in recent days.
Amid this turmoil, legislative action took place on August 7, as the Chamber of Deputies approved a new prison decree aimed at addressing the acute issue of overcrowding in Italian prisons. While the measures proposed include the hiring of 1,000 new prison officers by 2026 and a streamlining of procedures for granting sentence reductions, critics argue that the response is insufficient to tackle the pressing needs of the prison system. The reform aims particularly to assist inmates with drug dependencies or mental disorders, allowing for their rehabilitation and social reintegration in facilities outside prison for portions of their sentences.
As the situation in Italian prisons continues to deteriorate, the need for comprehensive reforms and immediate actions to improve safety and living conditions for both inmates and prison staff becomes increasingly urgent.
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