Santa Maria Capua Vetere Prison: Overcrowding at 135%

The situation at the Santa Maria Capua Vetere prison is back in the spotlight. The alarm was raised again by the Campania region's prison ombudsman, Samuele Ciambriello, who visited the facility today, collecting reports and complaints from the prison population.

He was welcomed by Deputy Director Maria Manna and the Deputy Commander of the Penitentiary Police. At the end of the visit, Ciambriello highlighted a series of critical issues, primarily overcrowding, healthcare, and staffing shortages.

1.029 inmates, overcrowding at 135%

The numbers paint a particularly complex picture. Currently, the penitentiary houses 1.029 inmates, compared to a statutory capacity of 826.

This figure is further affected by the ongoing renovation work in the Tiber and Danube pavilions, which has made 150 seats unavailable. The result is an overcrowding level that, according to data provided to the Guarantor, stands at around 135 percent.

Among the inmates are 53 women in high-security prisons, 799 men for common crimes, and 177 men in high-security prisons. There are also 326 drug addicts.

Healthcare: "There's a shortage of essential staff."

Healthcare is a particularly sensitive issue. "Inmates complain of difficulties receiving care both within the prison and in specialized facilities and hospitals," Ciambriello reported.

During the visit, the guarantor also inspected the recently activated nursing stations on the Thames and Seine wards. "They were closed today," he emphasized.

According to Ciambriello, the shortage affects various professional figures: doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and cultural and linguistic mediators.

Educators halved and shortage of agents

Staffing is also a critical issue. To ensure adequate educational provision, 22 educators are needed, but only 11 are currently employed. Furthermore, one of them will retire in September.

The situation regarding the Penitentiary Police is also worrying: there are 412 staff members, while, according to the guarantor, at least 110 are missing.

These numbers, according to Ciambriello, inevitably impact the quality of services and the daily management of the facility.

Requests to the surveillance judiciary

During the visit, the prisoners' requests to the supervisory magistrates also emerged.

"Both the inmates in the high-security and medium-security wards are requesting the presence of the surveillance magistrates who can conduct individual interviews with each inmate, including live streaming," the guarantor explained.

The main complaints also include the failure to grant award permits and emergency leave, as well as the excessively long decision-making times.

The report after the visit

The inspection will now result in a report. Ciambriello announced that next week he will submit a document detailing the critical issues identified during the visit.

The report will be addressed to the prison director, the health director, and the coordinator of the Santa Maria Capua Vetere supervisory judiciary. This is a formal step by which the Guarantor intends to bring the prison conditions and the needs expressed by the inmate population to the attention of the institutions.