Italian prison officers face assaults and suicide attempt in Alba, Montorio

On 26 June at the Alba prison, a 30‑year‑old inmate in the semi‑free section attempted to fashion a makeshift noose in a locked bathroom. Prison police intervened swiftly, preventing a possible suicide. The inmate was taken to hospital in a confused state, with authorities suspecting the influence of psycho‑active substances. OSAPP secretary Leo Beneduci praised the staff’s quick action and called for urgently increased resources and staffing for the penitentiary system.

A separate incident at the Montorio prison involved a prison police officer who was struck in the ear by a foreign inmate suffering from psychiatric disorders. The officer required emergency medical treatment. Union representative Matteo Barbera highlighted this assault as part of a pattern of physical attacks on staff, urging authorities to address the unsafe working conditions and to provide better protection for prison personnel.