Salerno: A shelter for inmates' families is being erected in Fuorni: "An act of civility."

A shelter to welcome inmates' families arriving at the Fuorni prison for visits. It was inaugurated this morning near the entrance to the Salerno prison. The shelter is designed to make the wait more dignified for those who, before being allowed into the penitentiary, were forced to remain outside.

Made of aluminum, with shatterproof glass and five benches, the new structure was born out of the need to provide adequate space, especially for the many women who travel to the prison every day to meet with their incarcerated family members.

"A condition that was not dignified"

Salerno Mayor Vincenzo De Luca emphasized the significance of the project, recalling that the shelter's construction had also been encouraged by the prison's director, Carlo Brunetti.

"A few weeks ago, we had a meeting with the prison director, who informed us of a rather critical situation," De Luca explained. "We have family members here, mostly mothers, women, and wives, who come to visit the inmates and have to wait in frankly undignified conditions."
Hence the municipal administration's decision to accelerate the construction process to allow the facility to be built before the first rains arrive. This concrete intervention, therefore, was designed to address a difficult situation that directly affected those waiting to access the facility.

Toilets coming soon too

The shelter, however, represents only the first step in a project scheduled for completion in the coming weeks. The city administration has announced the construction of restrooms, with separate spaces for women, men, and people with disabilities, as well as the installation of an air conditioning system.

"We created this family reception facility extraordinarily quickly," De Luca emphasized, reiterating that the goal is to ensure greater attention to those who experience, directly or indirectly, the prison experience.
«It is a sign of civility, of attention to a world that already has reasons for suffering and respect especially for families and prisoners», added the mayor, recalling once again the significant presence of mothers and wives among the people who reach Fuorni for interviews.

The prison as part of the city

Director Carlo Brunetti called the project "an act of civility," emphasizing how the new structure helps restore dignity to the spaces intended for welcoming family members.
The inauguration also served as an opportunity to revisit the relationship between the prison and the Salerno community. Brunetti recalled the agreement signed with the Municipality for the employment of inmates in community service projects.

"The prison is part of the community, it's meant to be a resource for the community in a growing city, and we want to make our contribution," the director said, thanking the mayor for his attention to the facility.

With the installation of restrooms and an air conditioning system, Brunetti concluded, the project will be completed, transforming the entrance area into a more suitable space for the families who travel to Fuorni every day.