Naples – Working conditions in collapse, obsolete structures and overcrowding that exceeds 130%. This is the alarming picture that emerged from the inspection visit conducted yesterday by CON.SI.PE. (Confederation of Penitentiary Unions) at the Naples District Prison Poggioreale “Giuseppe Salvia”.
The delegation, composed of Vice President Luigi Castaldo, National Director Vincenzo Santoriello, National Secretary Francesco De Curtis, Regional Secretary Campania Tommaso De Lia and Regional Director Bruno Faraldo, verified in the field the critical issues affecting Penitentiary Police personnel.
The inspection revealed a situation of profound degradation, with work environments that do not comply with the health and safety regulations set out in Legislative Decree 81/2008. The now inadequate structures, combined with a serious lack of staff, compromise the internal organization, creating an unsustainable professional climate.
To make matters worse, there is a lack of air conditioning in many operational areas, a problem that is set to worsen with the arrival of a summer that promises to be one of the hottest in recent years. The grueling shifts, imposed by overcrowding and the management of inmates with heterogeneous crimes and health problems, make the situation bordering on unmanageable.
“It will be a very tough summer for the Campania prison officers,” said Vice President Castaldo. “The workloads are unsustainable, proportionate to a constantly growing prison population and obsolete facilities like Poggioreale. The promiscuity between prisoners and the health problems further undermine the stability of the prison system.”
CON.SI.PE. has launched an urgent appeal to the Government, asking for immediate interventions to guarantee minimum conditions of safety, dignity of work and functionality in penitentiary institutions, with particular attention to critical situations such as Poggioreale.
The Confederation also expressed heartfelt praise to the Penitentiary Police personnel, who, despite chronic difficulties, continue to operate with an extraordinary spirit of sacrifice and professionalism. “Their daily commitment is an example of institutional dedication that deserves respect and recognition,” concluded Castaldo.
The appeal of CON.SI.PE. underlines the need for concrete actions to address a crisis that not only compromises the well-being of operators, but puts the entire penitentiary system in Campania at risk. The situation in Poggioreale, a symbol of the difficulties of the sector, requires rapid responses to avoid further deterioration.
Article published on 4 June 2025 - 20:50
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