Italy's Sollicciano prison flagged for unsafe conditions and severe overcrowding

An 87‑year‑old man sentenced for a three‑year‑old car theft has been placed in the Sollicciano prison in Florence despite his frail health, prompting local officials to seek an alternative facility. The inmate’s lack of teeth and inability to chew solid food required the prison to move him to a clinical ward and provide liquid meals. His case has drawn attention to the broader crisis at Sollicciano, where inspections have uncovered infestations, unsanitary conditions and structural decay.

A separate report highlights systemic problems across Italian prisons, citing extreme overcrowding—often exceeding 200 % capacity—and deficiencies such as broken windows, insufficient water, inadequate hygiene facilities and deteriorating infirmary sections. The court has ordered a review of Sollicciano’s compliance with human‑dignity standards, and the Constitutional Court will rule on a related case in September that could set a precedent for limiting prison populations nationwide.