Italy approves law permitting undercover police in prisons, prompting constitutional appeal

On 24 April 2026 Italy enacted Law n. 54, converting the 2026 Security Decree, which authorises penitentiary police officers to conduct undercover investigations inside prisons. The measure expands article 15 of the law to cover offences such as riots, subversive associations, escapes, drug trafficking and possession of mobile phones.

Human‑rights groups, prison operators, volunteers and teachers have launched an appeal defending article 27 of the Constitution, which mandates a rehabilitative purpose for incarceration. They argue that covert operations undermine trust, increase suspicion, and threaten the rights and safety of detainees and staff. Critics cite the lack of oversight, potential for arbitrary action and the risk of eroding the therapeutic role of prisons.

The controversy highlights tension between security objectives and the constitutional guarantee of a treatment‑focused penitentiary system.