The number of inmates in the Cagliari-Uta prison has now well exceeded the maximum capacity and is now 105% "full".
Not only that: many of the people in the group have problems with drug addiction or mental disorders, but the lack of staff, even specialized ones, makes treatment, assistance and rehabilitation difficult if not impossible.
Furthermore, the situation is no better in the other prisons on the island.
The complaint comes from the Socialismo Diritti association.
CAGLIARI-UTA – «The number of prisoners in the “Ettore Scalas” prison in Cagliari-Uta is constantly increasing – we read in a note signed by Maria Grazia Caligaris, which takes into consideration the latest data from the Ministry of Justice. In fact, every month there is an increase in the number of people deprived of liberty beyond the regulatory limit in the Institute. A worrying signal which does not correspond to an adaptation of the administrative staff, that of the penitentiary police and educators. Not to mention that the Director holds a double role as regent at Sassari-Bancali and there is no deputy director."
«Behind the bars of the main detention facility on the island – underlines Caligaris – there are 589 inmates (including 111 foreigners and 24 women) for 561 regular places (almost 105%). There were 536 on January 31st. This is a population deprived of freedom that is difficult to manage due to the significant presence of drug addicts and people with mental disorders. Often the cells are destroyed by reckless acts and people who are incompatible with detention continue to be held in isolation. The shortage of staff also reduces the possibility of implementing rehabilitation projects even for those who could do them with the constant outcome of reducing their stay in prison to a punishment as an end in itself."
SASSARI BANCALI – As mentioned, however, the alarm does not only concern Cagliari. «The situation is also at the limit in Sassari-Bancali where – observes the SDR exponent – there are 456 prisoners compared to 454 beds (including 116 foreigners and 17 women. Instead there are 90 prisoners in maximum security regime (41bis )".
THE OTHERS – Again: «The situation remains difficult at Paolo Pittalis in Tempio-Nuchis with 178 inmates, all in high security (for 170 places). On the contrary, the situation has improved numerically in Oristano-Massama 242 (by 266) and in Lanusei where 28 inmates live together in 33 places".
As regards the other penitentiaries, continues SDR, «the presence of citizens deprived of liberty in the prison of Alghero which has 110 prisoners for 156 places (25 foreigners) and Badu 'e Carros with 192 prisoners for 378 places (also if there are two closed sections). The situation remains paradoxical in the open-air colonies of Is Arenas (79 attendances for 176), Isili (81 for 130) and Mamone (162 out of 292 - in reality a pavilion with another 100 seats is closed) where it still appears very difficult to fill some empty".
“A TURNING POINT IS NEEDED” – «Despite the announcement of valorization initiatives – concludes Caligaris – the constant work of prisoners and agricultural production still leave something to be desired. As those responsible for the Dap and the Ministry know, a change is needed in Sardinia. In the next few days, the results and assignments of tasks to the new directors should be made known in order to overcome the difficulties of managing 10 institutes with three people. However, the doubt also remains because Sardinia does not even have an exclusively assigned regional administrator."
(Unioneonline/lf)
