Sardinia receives 88 high-security prisoners in Italian prison reorganization

The Italian government has implemented a major reorganization of the 41-bis high-security prison regime, resulting in the transfer of 88 high-profile mafia members and terrorists to Sardinia. This operation involved closing the specialized sections at the Mammagialla facility in Viterbo and in Terni to centralize the management of high-risk detainees.

The transferred prisoners are being relocated to the recently renovated Uta prison near Cagliari. The operation was a large-scale logistical effort involving over 220 prison police officers, along with support from the State Police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza. Undersecretary to the Justice, Alberto Balboni, stated that the move aims to recover important detention spaces through this centralized management.

Sardinian President Alessandra Todde has criticized the decision, calling it a unilateral move by the government. She expressed concerns that the concentration of high-security prisoners could turn the island into the ‘Cayenne of Italy,’ citing potential negative impacts on local healthcare costs and public services. The regional government has announced plans to challenge these administrative acts before the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court.