Italy to add 15,000 prison places to ease overcrowding
Reuters6 days
Italy Plans Prison Expansion to Combat Overcrowding Crisis
Above: The Regina Coeli prison in Rome on Aug. 26, 2024. Image copyright: Robert Messer/picture alliance/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Italy’s overcrowded prisons are the government’s number one priority, which is why it is embarking on a series of structural reforms. By increasing prison capacity, expanding access to rehabilitation, and implementing carefully considered early releases, the government will reduce the pressure on the prison system and improve conditions for inmates.
Government-critical narrative
Italy’s prison system is fundamentally broken. Government inaction and a lack of investment have led to ever-worsening conditions, with prisons becoming awash with violence, suicide, and overcrowding. The government must ensure its strategy is up to the task of addressing the issue, given that previous commitments have been inadequate to handle the crisis.