Prisons in Rome: 10 cybersecurity certifications for a future beyond prison.

Rome. Preparing for a return to work by studying cybersecurity, turning incarceration into an opportunity to acquire professional skills. This is the journey undertaken by participants in the Cyber ​​Security Foundation initiative at Rebibbia prison, who today received their certifications after completing 200 hours of training. This milestone has been achieved by all inmates who chose to participate in the course, according to a press release.
The initiative is part of the Foundation's "Prison Project," which aims to develop the technical and professional skills of inmates nearing the end of their sentences, the statement explains. The Rebibbia program, aimed at adults, was created under the memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 with the Department of Penitentiary Administration and the Rome Criminal Chamber, with the aim of promoting social and occupational reintegration through digital training.
"This government is working to make prisons safer and sentences truly rehabilitative. This means ensuring rules within the institutions, but also providing those serving a sentence with the tools to avoid returning to crime once they are released. Preparing for the future, in this sense, is an essential part of rehabilitation. Training and employment are crucial, and this project, offering qualified skills in a growing sector like IT, goes exactly in this direction. Ninety-eight percent of those who learn a trade in prison, once released, do not return to crime," stated Undersecretary of State for Justice, Andrea Ostellari.

To support its implementation, the Cyber ​​Security Foundation donated 15 computers to the institute and offered its expertise, according to the statement. The program supports participants in acquiring cybersecurity knowledge, introducing them to industry professionals and offering tools to guide subsequent educational and career choices.
"These ten certifications represent the result of a choice and a commitment: that of people who decided to test themselves, study, and invest in their future. We recognize each of the participants for completing the program," explains Marco Gabriele Proietti, president and founder of the Cyber ​​Security Foundation. "For those nearing the end of their sentence, acquiring professional skills means having more tools to rebuild their independence. With this project, we want to help connect training in prison to opportunities in the world of work. I thank the prison administration, the Rome Criminal Chamber, the management and staff of Rebibbia, and the trainers. Special thanks go to our partner companies Fortinet, Telsy, a TIM Group company, and DXC Technology, and to their respective representatives: Massimo Palermo (Vice President of Fortinet), Alessandra Micheli (CEO of Telsy), and Federico Santi (Security Director of DXC Technology) for their support of the project."

During their studies, the note continues, participants acquired fundamental technical skills in the field of cybersecurity, data protection, and digital threat prevention: a professional field among the most sought-after in the job market today.
"The awarding of these certificates marks a significant milestone in the personal journey of each participant and confirms the facility's commitment to offering high-quality training programs geared toward the professions of the future. This program represents a concrete example of how punishment can fulfill its fundamental re-educational function. Providing marketable and up-to-date skills in digital technologies offers individuals a real opportunity for redemption and to build their futures after their incarceration ends," explains Maria Donata Iannantuono, director of the Rome Rebibbia Prison.
"Initiatives like the one concluded today demonstrate the power of institutions when they work together to restore citizens to the community who can contribute to peaceful social coexistence. The program undertaken by these young people, under the expert guidance of specialized trainers, therefore offers an opportunity for redemption to those who have managed to acquire skills useful for protecting our digital ecosystem," stated Ivano Gabrielli, Director of the Postal Police. "The conclusion of this program demonstrates that projects like this can be implemented and should be duly relaunched and expanded, implementing and therefore respecting the constitutional principles that view criminal treatment not only as a time for just punishment, but above all as a means of restoring full citizenship through concrete opportunities for reintegration into the workforce."
The collaboration between the prison administration, the legal profession, and the Foundation allows educational resources and specialized skills to be brought to the institutions, the statement states. The awarding of the certificates marks the conclusion of the training and a step toward the project's goal: to make what has been learned usable in building a career path after incarceration.
"We are deeply satisfied with this result, which primarily recognizes the inmates' commitment: all participants in the cybersecurity training course successfully passed the final tests. This is a project I strongly supported when I had the honor of presiding over the Rome Criminal Court, based on a simple belief: prisons must offer concrete opportunities for training and development. Educating people means restoring prospects and building a future," says Gaetano Scalise, project manager and former president of the Rome Criminal Court.
The "Prison Project," which runs until the end of 2027, includes, in addition to training activities, the development of teaching tools and the establishment of an internal digital learning platform within the institutions, which will make course content available, the statement emphasizes.
The Rebibbia experience, the statement concludes, falls within the framework dedicated to adult penitentiaries. The Foundation's broader program also includes initiatives aimed at juvenile penitentiaries, with activities in L'Aquila and planned extensions to Palermo, Naples, and Milan. These distinct paths share the goal of making technological training a resource for personal growth and future professional development.