Hon. FERRARI – DE BERTOLINI – REPETTO (PD – TRENTINO) * VISIT BOLZANO PRISON: « 25% OF STAFF MISSING WITH 40% MORE INMATES, THE MINISTRY MUST INTERVENE »

2.38pm – Tuesday 23 April 2024

(The following text is taken entirely from the press note sent to the Opinion Agency) –

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“You must have seen” initiative: the visit to the Bolzano prison of the regional councilors Andrea De Bertolini and Sandro Repetto with the deputy Sara Ferrari. Yesterday’s visit by MP Sara Ferrari and regional councilors Andrea De Bertolini and Sandro is part of the national initiative of the Democratic Party on the prison emergency “You must have seen”, which involves inspections of penitentiary institutions in all regions. Repetto at the Bolzano prison, after the visit to the Trento prison last February. In the Bolzano penitentiary institute people live and work in a manner unworthy of a civilized country and in conditions that are even more jarring considering the high quality of life that the area in which it is located boasts.

The building, which is an understatement to define as dilapidated, currently houses 125 inmates in a clear situation of overcrowding, given that the maximum regulatory capacity is 88. “We have seen people living in supernumerary numbers in old, moldy and cramped rooms, with bathrooms without window and shared showers in the corridor” says the Democratic MP. The serious shortage of prison police forces forces staff to work in a constantly unsustainable and risky situation. In fact, there are 52 of them operating under enormous pressure when there should be 75! As many as 25% of staff are missing with 40% more prisoners! The Ministry must absolutely intervene to guarantee compliance with the regulatory living space, the lack of which is even more intolerable in an ancient building that is falling to pieces. The scabies infection, contained by the administration through the hospitalization of the inmates concerned in the city hospital, is an element of aggravation in the tension of the restricted coexistence. Even the work for the imminent renovation of the roof and facade actually risks worsening an already compromised situation. In the narrow internal courtyard, where the inmates go out into the open, walk and play five-a-side football on badly maintained ground with the asphalt full of potholes, scaffolding will be installed to restore the façade from which the rubble is falling today, but they will occupy a substantial part of the only external relief valve, which the inmates can enjoy.

“I will present a question to the government, so that it urgently intervenes to relieve the South Tyrolean institute from the pressure of overcrowding and to remove the causes of the staff shortage, also through the committee of agreement with the Province of Bolzano, in order to make less the conditions for accessing the competitions are restrictive. The linguistic obstacle for the administrative staff whose role is now covered by the prison police adds to the problem of finding accommodation on the city market, which has prices that are difficult to access. Currently the same police operators are staying in an adjacent barracks in conditions beyond the norm, which do not make that professional location attractive even for them”, reports Sara Ferrari.

To organize the educational, language, instruction, cooking or music treatment activities, carried out entirely by external staff from social and training entities in the area, there is currently only one official on secondment from Trento. This whole situation of precariousness in derogation of the rules generates a constant condition of potential multiple risk, which at the same time makes the professional effort of the staff of each role even more appreciable, who manage to maintain an active relational climate and make that place one of the few not to record suicide episodes. the regional group leader of the PD, Andrea de Bertolini declares: “we will commit ourselves in the Regional Council to solicit a dialogue with the Government, for the establishment of a regional superintendency, so that the urgent multiple critical issues concerning the prisons of Bolzano and Trento can be addressed and so that there can be a better synergy with the local institutions. Because it is indispensable, in accordance with art. 27 of the Constitution, respecting the dignity of prisoners, that the conditions for the re-education of the offender are effective. In the interest of society as a whole. What is disconcerting is that this Government, in the face of emphasizing prison-centric political propaganda, has no intention of doing anything to ensure the minimum conditions of dignity for prisoners and those who work daily in Italian prisons”.

According to the councilor of Bolzano Sandro Repetto “the episode of scabies infection has also made clear the need for a better relationship between the health unit inside the penitentiary facility and the provincial health department, I therefore want to commit myself in this direction to promote better conditions of life and respect for the right to health for all. I will also discuss with the provincial councilor for construction and safety, to identify housing solutions for civilian and penitentiary police personnel” declares Bolzano Regional Councilor Sandro Repetto.

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Hon. Sara Ferrari
Andrea de Bertolini – PD group leader in the regional council
Sandro Repetto – PD regional councilor