Prisons, task force to combat overcrowding. Nordio: "Alternative measures for 10,000 inmates"

Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has determined that 10,105 so-called definitive inmates are potentially eligible for alternative measures to prison. For this reason, a statement explains, a task force has been established at the Ministry in Via Arenula, which has already initiated discussions with the supervisory magistrates and individual penitentiaries to facilitate the resolution of these cases.

The final inmates in question are those with remaining sentences of less than 24 months, for offenses other than those considered preemptive—as defined in Article 4-bis of the Penitentiary Law—and who have not received serious disciplinary sanctions in the last 12 months. The group, established today, will meet weekly and draw its conclusions by September 2025. Nordio explained that there was a "useful discussion with the supervisory judiciary."

Two million for Abruzzo

Nordio is also allocating approximately two million euros to the Abruzzo region, with the aim of launching orientation, training, and social housing programs for individuals serving time outside penal institutions or leaving prison, and establishing a network to facilitate their social and work reintegration.

The initiative will create an integrated system of interventions and new synergies and collaborations across the regions. Part of the resources will be used to expand and improve the functionality of spaces dedicated to training and socio-occupational inclusion treatment activities; the remainder will be used for assisted and temporary housing, suitable for hosting—for limited periods—recipients of reintegration and training programs who lack housing and would otherwise be unable to access alternative measures or alternative sanctions.

In Umbria, 300 prisoners could be granted alternative measures.

Approximately 300 of the 1,600 total so-called "definitive" inmates in Umbria could benefit from alternative measures to prison. This "would be a breath of fresh air" for the facilities in Perugia, Terni, Spoleto, and Orvieto, according to the ombudsman, Giuseppe Caforio . Speaking to ANSA, he explained that in Umbria's prisons, "the serious problems already reported persist, and no new positive developments."