Prison police protest at Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi prison

Avellino – A cry of alarm from the heart of Irpinia: the Penitentiary Police are in a state of unrest at the Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi prison, where the number of inmates has far exceeded the regulated capacity, resulting in grueling shifts for the officers and unbearable psychological and physical pressure.

The facility, designed to house a maximum of 124 inmates, currently has 191, with three more arriving in the coming days. The USPP union calls this situation "unacceptable," calling for immediate action from the Campania Department of Prison Administration.

The complaint comes in an official statement from the Penitentiary Police Union (USPP), signed by national president Giuseppe Moretti and regional secretary Ciro Auricchio.

"Overcrowding is forcing officers to work grueling shifts," the document reads, emphasizing how this emergency amplifies the stress already accumulated by staff, who have been "exhausted for some time."

It's not just about numbers: for officers, it means extended hours, close night shifts, and constant surveillance in high-risk conditions, with direct repercussions on their mental and physical health. "We can no longer accept the idea of ​​solving the police shortage with these methods," union representatives thunder, pointing the finger at a management that prioritizes forced reception over safety.

The Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi prison, a modern facility inaugurated in the 90s and known for being among the most advanced in Southern Italy, is no stranger to these critical issues.

The situation has rapidly worsened: the increase of 16 inmates in just five months reflects an alarming national trend. In Italy, as of January 31, 2025, prisons held 63.167 inmates, a full 11.800 in excess of regulatory capacity, with 70 facilities exceeding 150% capacity—that is, three people for every two beds.

And the consequences are dramatic: since the beginning of the year, there have already been 56 suicides in prison cells, a 20% increase compared to 2024, often linked to degrading conditions of detention and forced isolation.

In the Campania region, the emergency is reaching worrying heights. By October 2025, the region was experiencing chronic overpopulation, with complaints pouring in for months: from the Campania Prison Ombudsman accusing the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP) of attempting to "subordinate" prison healthcare, risking violations of fundamental rights, to the protests of criminal lawyers from Irpinia, who visited the facility in August to raise awareness of the "prison emergency."

Even at the national level, Minister of Justice Nordio acknowledged the need for interventions on pre-trial detention, while downplaying the overcrowding rate as "slightly higher" than in pre-pandemic years.

But for those working on the front lines, like the officers at Sant'Angelo, words aren't enough: "We need more Penitentiary Police personnel and urgent responses," the USPP concludes in its statement, addressed directly to the Campania Superintendent. The strike could have immediate repercussions: reduced shifts or absences from duty, potentially impacting the daily management of the penitentiary. Meanwhile, the union has announced a broader mobilization, in line with protests from Rebibbia prison to Rome denouncing the "failure" of the government's anti-crisis plans.

In a country where overcrowding has become a "tragedy every hundredth time," the voice from the small Irpinia prison echoes as a warning to the entire system: without resources and structural reforms, safety—for officers and inmates—remains a mirage. The Department of Prisons and Prison Administration has 48 hours to respond, otherwise the protest will spread.