Naples – Prisons in the Naples judicial district remain under pressure, with numbers that confirm a structurally critical situation.
The alarm was raised by the president of the Court of Appeal of Naples, Maria Rosaria Covelli, in her speech presented at the inauguration of the judicial year.
Over 6.900 inmates in the district
In the district of the Court of Appeal, a total of 6.909 individuals are held in detention. Of these, 5.127 are held in penitentiary institutions, 30 are held in REMS (Residences for the Execution of Security Measures), and 52 are held in workhouses.
These numbers, according to President Covelli, require a profound reflection on the prison system and its ability to guarantee dignified detention conditions.
Poggioreale exceeds capacity: +74% overcrowding
The situation at the "Giuseppe Salvia" prison in Poggioreale is particularly critical. As of October 31, 2025, there were 2.155 inmates, compared to a statutory capacity of 1.611. This figure translates into an overcrowding rate of over 74%, one of the highest in the district.
Conditions were also described as "alarming" in other large prisons in Campania, such as the "Pasquale Mandato" prison in Secondigliano and the "Francesco Uccella" prison in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, which have already been the subject of several reports for structural and management problems.
Social reintegration and employment: ongoing projects
In her speech, President Covelli emphasized how persistent prison overcrowding makes a shift in perspective inevitable, placing the issue of inmates' social reintegration at the center. This process requires, in particular, employment and vocational training.
Within this framework, companies affiliated with the district prison management have hired 114 inmates for external work. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal has signed memoranda of understanding with the management of the Poggioreale and Secondigliano prisons, involving inmates in the reorganization and disposal of judicial documents.
Training and work against recidivism
"Projects are underway that leverage training and employment as concrete tools for inclusion, empowerment, and prevention of recidivism," Covelli emphasized, reiterating that only through active and structured policies can we effectively address the prison emergency that continues to plague the Neapolitan penitentiary system.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The prison situation in Naples is truly worrying. The numbers show that there are too many people in prison and the conditions are poor. We need to reflect on how to improve the prison system for inmates.