Ferrara prison faces severe overcrowding and potential expansion

Regional Councilor Marcella Zappaterra has filed an inquiry regarding the critical situation at the ‘Costantino Satta’ prison in Ferrara. According to Ministry of Justice data updated to March 2026, the facility is significantly overcrowded, housing over 400 detainees despite having a regulatory capacity of approximately 240 places.

Zappaterra is seeking clarification on potential expansion plans, including a proposed new pavilion for 120 inmates and a possible second expansion of 250 places, which would bring total capacity to over 600. She cautioned against simply doubling the prison's size without a comprehensive impact assessment on the city's social, sanitary, and urban infrastructure.

The inquiry emphasizes that addressing overcrowding requires more than just new construction; it necessitates improvements in staffing, prison healthcare, mental health services, addiction support, and reintegration programs.