A 32-year-old Nigerian prisoner, believed to be a migrant trafficker and facing other serious charges, was found hanged in his cell at the Ariano Irpino prison this afternoon.
Despite the intervention of the Penitentiary Police and medical personnel, it was not possible to save his life. The previous night, the same prisoner had violently attacked some officers, causing injuries to four of them, who had to receive medical treatment, with a total prognosis of 70 days.
The news was released by Gennarino De Fazio, secretary of the Uilpa Penitentiary Police, who underlined that the number of suicides among prisoners since the beginning of the year has risen to 71, to which seven members of the Penitentiary Police are added.
De Fazio highlighted the critical conditions of Italian prisons: overcrowding with 15 thousand inmates more than capacity, staff shortages of 18 thousand units in the Penitentiary Police, dilapidated structures and widespread disorganization.
Prisons, he added, are no longer able to perform their functions, becoming instead places of violence and death. De Fazio reiterated the need for urgent measures, such as reducing prison density, strengthening the prison police, and improving health and psychiatric care. He also raised doubts about the actions announced by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio after the approval of the prison decree, asking whether concrete measures have been taken.
Yesterday he had set fire to his section, injuring some officers
The prisoner was accused of being a migrant trafficker and involved in very serious crimes, including kidnapping, sexual violence, aggravated homicide and aiding illegal immigration.
Last night he had started a fire in his section of the prison, injuring several officers. Today he was found hanged in the security cell where he had been transferred.
The Penitentiary Police Union (Uspp), with its president Giuseppe Moretti and regional secretary Ciro Auricchio, denounced the continuous occurrence of critical events, such as suicides, escapes and assaults, underlining the lack of attention to mental health in prison and the growing isolation of the Penitentiary Police.
Tommaso De Lia, regional secretary of CON.SI.PE Campania, also stated that prisoners with psychiatric problems should be treated in adequate facilities. Vincenzo Santoriello, national delegate of CON.SI.PE, defined the prisons in Campania as “out of control”, while Luigi Castaldo, vice president of the same union, criticized the current penitentiary system, stating that it is generating violence and suicides.
Article published on 16 September 2024 - 21:03
