The first new prison facilities from a €750 million expansion plan will begin to be visible by next spring, according to Andrea Delmastro delle Vedove, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice. The plan aims to create the 10,000 inmate spaces that Italy has lacked for 50 years, putting an end to what he termed “prison-emptying” policies.
Delmastro made the announcement to journalists following a visit to the Catanzaro prison in Calabria, where he met with prison police and union representatives. He was accompanied on the visit by Wanda Ferro, the Undersecretary of the Interior.
During the meetings, officials outlined the critical issues plaguing the Calabrian facility, primarily concerning severe infrastructure deficits and staff shortages.
“There is no room for prison-emptying measures when it comes to national security and our duty to the victims of crime,” Delmastro stated. “We will implement a prison plan, already funded with €750 million, which includes the appointment of a commissioner for penitentiary construction to quickly execute these measures and create more humane prisons.”
Addressing the nationwide shortage of prison police officers, a problem also present in Catanzaro, Delmastro detailed ongoing hiring efforts. He claimed all trade unions have acknowledged the government’s “titanic efforts” in this area, with over 10,700 new hires already funded.
“If all my predecessors as Justice Undersecretary had done as I have,” he said, “today we would be talking about an overpopulation of prison police officers, not inmates.” He confirmed the 185th training course is currently underway for 2,568 recruits and that he has already signed off on a new competition for 649 additional trainee agents. “The State is no longer retreating on security,” he declared.
To increase the number of annual graduates, Delmastro also announced a reduction in the prison police training course duration to four months.
On the issue of housing psychiatric inmates within the penal system, Delmastro stated that these are “problems that must be addressed jointly with the Regions,” in accordance with their competences in penitentiary healthcare.