Nicotra (Confederation of Penitentiary Unions): “It is time for a change of pace in the juvenile justice system” – Il Fatto Nisseno

Over the past two months, Italy’s juvenile justice system has seen a number of worrying incidents. These events, easily traceable on news portals, include escapes, violent brawls, discoveries of drugs and cell phones, fires and attacks on Penitentiary Police officers.

Here are some of the most serious incidents:

– 14 June: escape of 2 minor prisoners from the Milan juvenile prison;

– 13 June: violent brawl between 7 inmates in the Airola juvenile prison;

– 12 June: discovery of drugs and mobile phones in the juvenile prison of Milan;

– 9 June: protest fire in Rome’s juvenile prison, 3 minor prisoners urgently admitted to hospital;

– 3 June: a cell set on fire in the Bari juvenile prison;

– 29 May: revolt by 70 inmates in the juvenile prison of Milan;

– 28 May: attempted escape from the Catania juvenile prison;

– 28 May: fires and fights in the Catania juvenile prison, 4 Penitentiary Police officers injured;

– 28 May: in the Milan juvenile prison, a young prisoner tries to strangle a Penitentiary Police officer;

– 19 May: escape of a young prisoner from the Milan juvenile prison;

– 17 May: 3 cells set on fire in the juvenile prison of Rome;

– 22 April: violence and torture in the Milan juvenile prison;

– 13 April: double escape from the Caltanissetta juvenile prison;

– April 3: prisoner attacks 3 Penitentiary Police officers.

The Penitentiary Police is tired of seeing themselves unload the responsibilities of a criminal system that is completely in shambles, with a governance that has failed to ensure suitable working conditions for those who serve the State and detention conditions for young adults and minors worthy of a country civil.

The President of the Confederation of Penitentiary Unions (CON.SI.PE.) Mimmo NICOTRA intervenes – we therefore ask the Government, and in particular the Minister of Justice Carlo NORDIO, to take note of the seriousness of the situation and to evaluate the rotation of the current top management department of Italian juvenile justice. A change of pace is needed compared to the current management methods, which have proven not only inadequate, but also dangerous for the safety of prisoners and prison staff.