Italy’s Prisons Struggle with Overcrowding Amid Rising Suicide Rates
As of April, Italy’s prisons held over 62,000 inmates, far exceeding the 51,000 capacity for which they were designed, according to a report by Antigone, an NGO monitoring prison conditions. The situation is exacerbating, with 45 inmates having committed suicide as of July 24, 2025. This alarming rise is reflected in a record 91 suicides recorded among prisoners in 2024, surpassing the previous high of 2022, highlighting a critical need for reform.
The conditions within Italian prisons have been thrust into the spotlight by the plight of individual inmates. Alemanno, a notable former mayor, illustrates these issues through the story of Roberto, a 77-year-old inmate who suffers from significant health challenges yet remains incarcerated for three years. “What is Roberto doing in jail? What social revenge still needs to be carried out on this person, who is struggling to walk, who cannot see or hear, who is in danger of dying in jail, and who has already served almost half of his sentence?” Alemanno questions. He argues for alternatives like house arrest for vulnerable inmates like Roberto.
Alemanno’s correspondence advocating for prisoners’ rights is co-signed by Fabio Balbo, dubbed “the Scribe of Rebibbia.” Balbo is known for assisting his fellow inmates with applications for prison benefits and for his activism on behalf of prisoners. The partnership has formed what Alemanno describes as a “strange alliance” focused on advocating for their rights from within the prison system.
Alemanno himself was sentenced in 2022 to one year and 10 months in prison for illegal party funding and influence peddling, part of a larger corruption investigation known as “Mafia Capitale.” This probe uncovered extensive corruption in Rome’s public contracts. Initially placed on community service probation, Alemanno returned to prison when judges found he violated the terms of his release.
Despite his incarceration, Alemanno continues to engage in politics, leading a hard-right micro-party named “Independence!” that aims to withdraw Italy from the EU while challenging “cosmopolitan elites” in defense of national interests. His dual role as a politician and inmate underscores the complexities within the Italian prison system, where political ideologies persist even behind bars, raising questions about the intersection of justice and governance.
With ongoing concerns about overcrowding and mental health in prisons, the Italian government faces mounting pressure to reform penal policies and address the alarming rise in inmate suicides, ensuring the dignity and human rights of all individuals, irrespective of their circumstances, reports 24brussels.
