Fresh Spin on the Article - A Dark Year for Italian Prisons
Overpopulated Prisons Witness Rapid Inmate Increase by 9,000, According to Antigone
It's 2023, and the Italian prison system is far from a walk in the park. Antigone, an association focused on detainee rights, has released their disturbing report for the year, and it ain't pretty.
The year started off rough with an average prison overcrowding rate of 119%, and record peaks of 151% in Lombardy - making Italy only second to Cyprus and Romania in Europe for most overcrowded prisons. The report title, "Torture is Prohibited," seems bitterly ironic given the ongoing violence and abuse faced by detainees.
Patrizio Gonnella, Antigone's president, speaks with a mix of disappointment and frustration. The chain of suicides that plagued prisons in 2022 hasn't stopped; in fact, it's been the deadliest year on record with 23 recorded suicides so far. The report details 13 ongoing proceedings against prison police officers for violence and torture, but progress is at risk due to proposed changes in parliament by the center-right majority.
There are issues like the suggestion to abolish the crime itself, as well as the Minister of Justice's proposed modifications, which threaten to hinder these investigations and trials. If passed, these new laws could lead to a stalemate, further endangering the lives of those within the prisons.
Antigone isn't backing down, though. The association has vowed to fight against these dangerous laws, determined to ensure the well-being and safety of detainees. The urgency of their mission is highlighted in the publication Imprisoning a Revolution (co-edited by a sister organization), which contextualizes carceral crises globally, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
While Antigone's report for 2025 is not yet available, their 2024 work saw over 100 prison inspections and legal support for over 2,000 detainees. They're in this fight for the long haul, advocating for improved living conditions, the prevention of "criminalization of poverty," and the challenge of prison abuses, including torture allegations. They won't stand for separating children from incarcerated mothers, and they won't tolerate heavy sentencing for minor social infractions.
For the most up-to-date and detailed information, direct consultation with Antigone's annual reports is advised, as their April 2025 web content primarily focuses on urgent advocacy efforts. But one thing's for sure: 2023 has been a dark year for Italian prisons, and things need to change.
- Despite the proposed policies-and-legislation by the center-right majority in parliament, Antigone has vowed to fight against the laws that could hinder investigations and trials related to prison abuses, including torture allegations.
- The Italian prison system's average prison overcrowding rate in 2023 was 119%, with record peaks of 151% in Lombardy, making it one of the most overcrowded prison systems in Europe.
- The association, Antigone, has published a report titled "Torture is Prohibited" for 2023, detailing the ongoing violence and abuse faced by detainees in Italian prisons, as well as the chain of suicides that plagued the prisons throughout the year.
- In the general-news, it is highlighted that Antigone's 2025 report is not yet available, but their work in 2024 saw over 100 prison inspections and legal support for over 2,000 detainees, with an ongoing focus on improved living conditions, the prevention of "criminalization of poverty," and the challenge of prison abuses.
