Night of chaos and violence in the Ariano Irpino penitentiary, where a suicide attempt triggered a riot among the inmates.
According to the first reconstructions, a prisoner allegedly tried to hang himself in his cell. When the prison police officers rushed to help him, some inmates managed to take possession of the keys, opening the other cells and unleashing chaos.
The situation quickly degenerated: the affected detention section was devastated, with fires set and inmates barricaded inside, armed with rudimentary objects transformed into improper weapons.
To quell the riot, it was necessary to urgently recall the Penitentiary Police personnel, who were on duty well beyond 12 hours. The decisive factor was theDirector's intervention of the prison, followed by the arrival of the Superintendent, to start a mediation. Only in the evening, after a new meeting with the management, the spirits calmed down. Some detainees they were immediately transferred to other institutions.
The episode reignites the debate on the management of Italian prisons. Secretariat GAU UILPA Penitentiary Police reiterated the need for exemplary measures against those responsible for the riots, highlighting the growing danger linked to violence within penitentiary institutions.
Particular attention was paid to the condition of the Ariano County Jail, where the regulatory capacity of approximately 270 inmates is largely exceeded, with over 330 current presences. The arrival of new prisoners, often transferred for reasons of order and security, aggravates an already critical situation. Overcrowding and growing tensions require urgent interventions to avoid new emergencies.
Article published on March 29, 2025 - 08pm
The situation in Italian prisons is increasingly serious, there are many problems with prisoners and management. It is important that the authorities intervene before other riots like the one in Ariano happen. Transfers do not solve.