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Competent Witnesses: How Penitentiary Workers Explain the Violence in Italian Prisons during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Ines Testoni

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Davide Viezzoli

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Gianmarco Biancalani

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Maria Armezzani

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Adriano Zamperini

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Italian prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (SMCV), prison police repressed a riot with extreme violence, bringing the state of prisons and the conditions of prisoners back to the attention of the Italian public opinion. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to collect the experiences and the competent opinions of the social and health personnel of Italian prisons regarding the episode of violence that happened in SMCV; the general state of health of the Italian prison system was explored, too, together with the collection of proposals for interventions aimed at the eradication of violence in prison. Method: The study employed a qualitative research design. Eighteen social-health workers from 12 Italian prisons were interviewed using in-depth interviews of ~60 min each that were conducted and recorded via Skype video calls. The interview transcripts were analyzed with qualitative reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) to identify the most relevant and recursive themes. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) reactions and thoughts about the events of SMCV; (2) structural problems of Italian prison police; (3) Italian prison system; and (4) reform proposals. Conclusions: A new and deeper awareness of the suffering of the current Italian penitentiary system emerged, together with courageous reform proposals that can restore dignity and centrality to the re-education of the detainees, preventing further future violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Ines Testoni & Davide Viezzoli & Gianmarco Biancalani & Maria Armezzani & Adriano Zamperini, 2022. "Competent Witnesses: How Penitentiary Workers Explain the Violence in Italian Prisons during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:13717-:d:950177
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Konstantinos Papazoglou & Brooke McQuerrey Tuttle, 2018. "Fighting Police Trauma: Practical Approaches to Addressing Psychological Needs of Officers," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(3), pages 21582440187, August.
    2. Ines Testoni & Irene Nencioni & Lucia Ronconi & Francesca Alemanno & Adriano Zamperini, 2020. "Burnout, Reasons for Living and Dehumanisation among Italian Penitentiary Police Officers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-12, April.
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