Rome, November 25 – A wave of violence involving an increasing number of adolescents. This is the dramatic picture emerging from the latest data released by the Campania Prison Ombudsman, Samuele Ciambriello, following incidents in recent weeks, with a particularly worrying spike in Campania. The latest case involves a fifteen-year-old from Naples, charged with aggravated homicide.
According to Ciambriello, since the beginning of 2024, 14 minors have been charged with intentional homicide, almost all of them Italian, while attempted homicides have risen to 52, a figure that highlights a surge in violent crimes among very young people. Added to these are 28 cases of sexual assault, 31 incidents of stalking, and a growing number of youths caught with weapons: 100 minors involved, 99 of whom are Italian.
The juvenile delinquency map also includes nine youths accused of criminal conspiracy and seven Italian minors with ties to the Mafia. These numbers, according to the Guarantor, describe a genuine social emergency.
Prisoners on the rise: 579 minors in Italy, 105 in Campania
The picture of young people deprived of liberty confirms the trend: 579 minors detained in Italy, 328 Italians and 251 foreigners. In Campania there are 105, divided between the prisons of Nisida (79) and Airola (26). At the same time, the presence of minors in communities or entrusted to social services is also growing.
A trend that raises questions for institutions: "Once in prison, should these kids simply pay, or should they be helped to change? Where is the state before a minor becomes a number in the criminal statistics?", denounces Ciambriello.
“Prevention cannot be just repression”
For the Guarantor, prevention means much more than just strengthening punitive measures: "It means monitoring schools, neighborhoods, and families; building stable educational networks; investing in psychologists, educators, and social workers," he explains.
The underlying question is simple and terrifying: why does a teenager commit murder, sexual assault, or gang attack? Behind these acts, Ciambriello observes, lie profound fragilities, life paths marked by trauma, the absence of solid emotional bonds, and neighborhoods where violence is a shortcut to recognition.
"Adolescence is a time when identity is built: if the need for listening, protection, and guidance is ignored, the risk of extreme choices increases," the Guarantor continues. Hence the need for interventions that offer real opportunities for growth, not just repression.
“Save them from the criminal world, before it's too late”
Many of the minors involved in serious crimes come from impoverished families or those immersed in criminal activity. Here, Ciambriello denounces, parents end up hoping for "miracle interventions" rather than structured educational programs.
The challenge for the Guarantor is clear: increase educational outreach in the area, work in schools, and create projects that teach alternatives to violence and the logic of the streets.
“Only in this way,” he says, “can we break the cycle of violence and guide these adolescents toward real change.”
“Politics does too little”
The final accusation is leveled at politics: "They're doing too little for these half-baked adolescents, with a sinking heart," Ciambriello concludes. And his warning sounds like a warning: without an immediate and structural response, the country risks losing an entire generation.
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 25/11/2025 at 13:33 - Content updated
- Article updated on 25/11/2025 at 13:37 - Article revised
Verified Source
Comments (1)
This is a very sad and worrying article. The increase in violence among young people is alarming. More must be done to help them and prevent these tragic events. Punishment is not enough; it's also important to understand the causes.