Rome – A cry of alarm over the dire conditions of Italian prisons resounded yesterday in the Senate, during the Consultation on Fundamental Human Rights, where the Guarantor of the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty of the Province of Caserta, Don Salvatore Saggiomo, spoke to denounce the health and organizational crisis in penitentiaries.
The occasion was the discussion on the Budget Law, a crucial moment for defining the State's priorities, which, according to the Guarantor, can no longer ignore the prison situation.
The meeting, strongly supported by Senate Vice President Mariolina Castellone, represented an opportunity to give voice to the "least privileged," such as prisoners and prison staff, whose dignity is often trampled upon by a collapsing system.
In a heartfelt speech, Father Saggiomo laid bare the critical issues afflicting the system: from the lack of care for inmates with serious illnesses, such as cancer, to the unsustainable conditions of prison police officers, forced to work grueling shifts that, in some cases, have led to extreme acts such as suicide.
Prison healthcare: a "ticking time bomb"
"Prison healthcare is collapsing," declared the Guarantor. "There is a shortage of doctors and specialists, healthcare workers are stretched thin, and basic care is often not provided. Inmates, to receive treatment, are forced to be transferred to hospitals, which not only complicates their condition but also further burdens an already fragile system." This situation, according to Saggiomo, represents a "time bomb" for inmates' health and the stability of institutions.
An appeal to the Government: three priorities for prisons
Before the Constitutional Court, the Guarantor put forward concrete proposals to reverse the trend, calling on the Government and Parliament to act decisively in the next Budget Law:
1. Invest in prison healthcare, hiring specialized medical personnel, especially psychologists, to ensure adequate and continuous care within the institutions.
2. Strengthen the Penitentiary Police force, ending double shifts and ensuring decent working conditions for officers.
3. Fund internal health protocols to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers and protect prisoners' right to health, as provided for by the Constitution.
Dignity at the Center: A Reference to the Constitution
"The budget law is not just an economic document, but a political act that reflects the priorities of a state," emphasized Don Saggiomo. "We cannot accept that prisons be relegated to the lowest echelons of the agenda, sacrificed and forgotten. The dignity of the person, whether an inmate or an officer, is a non-negotiable constitutional value. Courageous decisions are needed to guarantee humane living and working conditions."
A commitment to the “last
Senator Castellone's initiative, which established the Consulta as a space for the most vulnerable voices in society, highlighted the urgent need for a change of pace. The words of the Caserta Ombudsman are not just a denunciation, but a call to rethink the penitentiary system as a place of re-education, not abandonment.
The challenge now passes to Parliament: the Budget Law will be an opportunity to demonstrate that human dignity is not a luxury, but an inalienable right.
PB
The situation in Italian prisons is truly complicated. As can be seen, there is not enough staff and not even adequate care for inmates. The budget law should address these fundamental aspects to improve conditions.