There have been 24 suicides in
Italy's prisons so far this year after three inmates took their
own lives in jails in Avellino, Genoa and Trieste on Sunday,
penitentiary police union SPP said on Monday.
The union said that, at this rate, last year's record of 91
prison suicides will be broken in 2025, amid alarm about
overcrowding in Italy's jails.
"Prison deaths cannot be written off as ordinary events," said
SPP Chief Aldo Di Giacomo, adding that there has been a 40% rise
in suicides among inmates with mental health problems and those
who are drug addicts, who make up about a third of the nation's
prison population.
"The emergency has passed a threshold, with the State incapable
of guaranteeing the lives of the people in its custody and the
lives of the personnel, who are subjected to daily abuse.
"There are alternative measures (to prison) that, in addition to
preventing the repetition of a crime, help reintegration into
society.
"These are not shortcuts or do-gooder concessions, but a
Constitutional duty. "Targeted, effective tools and funding are
needed, as well as collaboration between local authorities and
the penitentiary administration".
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