Tuscany prison overcrowding prompts tribunal transfers and ministerial review

A court in Tuscany ordered the sealing of seven prison sections after finding conditions beyond imagination, citing severe overcrowding and inadequate facilities. The Ministry of Justice later issued instructions to place mattresses on the floor where proper bunk beds were lacking, a directive later corrected as a typographical error.

The tribunal also rejected the Ministry’s appeal against the decision, leaving in place the transfers of dozens of inmates to other facilities. The transfers aim to alleviate overcrowding in regional prisons, but officials warn they will not solve the broader problem of limited capacity across Tuscany.

The article notes the death of a 75‑year‑old detainee who was hospitalized shortly after admission and died ten days later, highlighting health risks for older inmates. Union representatives for prison staff warned that the overcrowding hampers rehabilitation programs and reintegration efforts. The situation has sparked criticism of the current penitentiary policy and calls for serious reforms.