The ICAM of Lauro, the only institute with reduced custody for imprisoned mothers in Southern Italy, inaugurated in 2016 with funding of approximately one million euros, will close its doors.
A decision that has raised strong criticism from the guarantors of the rights of people subjected to restrictive measures of personal freedom in Campania.
During a meeting with the Superintendent of the Campania Penitentiary Administration, Lucia Castellano, the representatives expressed concern about the consequences of this choice, defining it as “harmful” and in contrast with the principles of territoriality of punishment and social reintegration.
Samuele Ciambriello, regional guarantor of prisoners, illustrated the contents of the meeting: “We highlighted how the closure of the ICAM of Lauro, an excellence born from the reconversion of the former ICATT (Institute with attenuated custody for the treatment of drug addiction), represents a step backwards.
From Rome onwards, detained mothers will no longer be able to rely on a dedicated facility, with the risk of being transferred to institutions in Northern Italy, such as Milan or Venice.
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Among the immediate consequences, the interruption of the schooling of the three children currently hosted in ICAM stands out. “Why not open a dedicated section in the Avellino District Prison?”, Ciambriello asks. “Or, alternatively, why not consider closing one of the three small institutions for imprisoned mothers in the North?”.
Mental Health and Overcrowding: Neglected Emergencies
In addition to the ICAM issue, the guarantors denounced other critical issues in the Campania penitentiary system. Among these, the alarming situation of the mental health of prisoners stands out. “There is a considerable increase in people with mental suffering and psychotic disorders,” the representatives reported. “We have asked for urgent solutions for the closure of the psychiatric facilities in Benevento and Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, structures that have been unused for some time.”
Another hot topic is overcrowding. In Campania, about a thousand inmates are serving sentences of less than a year, but often there is no news or updated reports on their conditions. “The lack of personnel in the translation units – the guarantors explained – also compromises hospital admissions and specialist medical visits. Furthermore, the lack of prison police officers limits the right to study and access to sports fields in some institutions”.
The scandal of excessive prices
No less serious is the issue of restrictions on the entry of clothing and food into prisons, in force for over a year. The guarantors have denounced "the scandal of excessive prices" for basic necessities, which further burden the living conditions of prisoners.
In conclusion, the representatives reiterated the urgency of structural interventions to guarantee respect for the fundamental rights of detainees, starting with the reopening of dedicated facilities and an increase in staff. The closure of the ICAM in Lauro, however, remains the symbol of a choice that risks leaving a void that is difficult to fill in the penitentiary system of Southern Italy.
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