NEW RULES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRISON
Reform of prison regulations
On Friday June 16 the government set new regulations granting prisoners new rights such as better food, light switches inside individual cells, ten minutes' telephone calls a week and outdoor visits.
The new rules substitute those enacted in 1976 and aim at improving the conditions of inmates.
The reform follows the scandal concerning 80 prison guards arrested last May on charges of beating prisoners in a Sardinia prison. After these arrests, a nationwide strike of prison guards took place claiming that they were being held responsible for problems that actually concerned the entire system.
The 136 articles provided for by the reform aim at improving the conditions of inmates living in overcrowded cells and complaining of being abused of and treated violently. In fact, Italian prisons house over 53,000 inmates.
Under the new regulations, each cell will be fitted with shower and bathroom facilities, and bigger windows allowing for brighter natural lighting. There will be non-smoking sections and the barriers dividing prisoners from their visitors will be abolished.
Basic schooling services will be established and non-Catholic prisoners will be allowed to worship as ministers of different religions will be allowed to celebrate liturgies.
Justice Minister Fassino stated that the new regulations "are important, as they are part of a radical reform of the prison system, which provides for 160 billion lire to fund building renovation".
The government said that the prison population is made up of drug addicts for about one third and that about 10% of them is HIV positive.
The government is also considering the possibility of passing an amnesty that would release about 10,000 inmates.
Parliament, however, is divided over which crimes should come under the amnesty.
Center-left insists on leaving out bribery and false bookkeeping, whereas the Ppi firmly believes that prisoners serving sentences for robberies and violent crimes should not benefit from the clemency bill.
Claiming that the Holy Year is one of forgiveness, the Catholic Church has repeatedly asked the government to issue a bill providing for clemency.
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