Italy’s parliament has enacted legislation permitting thousands of prisoners battling drug or alcohol addiction to serve their sentences outside traditional prison settings by participating in rehabilitation programs. This reform aims to address the country’s critical issue of prison overcrowding, with facilities operating at approximately 140 percent capacity, one of the highest rates in the European Union alongside France.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio highlighted that the new law could potentially benefit over 10,000 inmates suffering from drug addiction within Italy’s prison population of nearly 65,000. Additionally, about 3,700 prisoners with alcohol-related problems may also qualify for this alternative sentencing under the new regulations, based on parliamentary data.
Meanwhile, the prisoners’ rights organization Antigone expressed skepticism regarding these figures, noting that inmates must fulfill several strict criteria before being eligible for release. Furthermore, the funding allocated under the law is expected to support fewer than 600 rehabilitation placements, raising concerns about the reform’s immediate impact.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed the legislation as “a victory on several fronts,” emphasizing its potential to alleviate the strain on overcrowded prisons and assist individuals with addictions in breaking free from criminal behavior. Despite Meloni’s government maintaining a tough stance on crime and immigration, it announced plans last year to expand prison capacity by 15,000 spaces, although no new facilities have yet been established.
In a politically sensitive context with national elections looming next year, the prison reform has drawn criticism from the far-right opposition party Futuro Nazionale. Founded this year by former army general Roberto Vannacci, the party has gained traction in opinion polls and challenged members of Meloni’s ruling coalition. Futuro Nazionale opposed the bill in parliament, accusing the government of adopting a lenient approach toward crime and immigration.
