Govt Unveils Ambitious Plan to Address Prison Overcrowding

Rome: Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government on Tuesday presented its plan to end chronic overcrowding in Italy’s jails, a problem that has been linked to a high number of suicides among inmates and several recent prison riots.

According to Ansa News Agency, the plan entails a major construction program to increase the number of available places in jails by around 15,000 in the coming years. This initiative also includes transferring jailed drug addicts to rehabilitation centers and expediting the procedures for 10,000 prisoners eligible for early release.

The construction aspect of the plan involves a significant financial commitment, with the government allocating 758 million euros to create 9,696 new jail places during the 2025-2027 period. Additionally, the plan aims to add 5,000 more places within the following five years.