Rome, Italy, Dec 19, 2011 / 10:47 am
Pope Benedict told inmates at Rome’s largest prison that he supports efforts by the Italian government to reduce chronic overcrowding in the country’s jails.
“It is important that the institutions promote a careful analysis of the prison system today, verifying the structures, resources, personnel, so that prisoners do not serve a ‘double punishment,’” the Pope said to over 300 prisoners in the city’s Rebbibia Prison on Dec. 18.
The Pope said he has already received many letters from prisoners highlighting the issue. Italy has some of the worst prison overcrowding in Europe, with a current prison population of 68,000, which is 24,000 people above capacity. Rebbibia itself has 500 more inmates than the 1,240 it was constructed to hold.
The Pope said it is important “to promote a development of the prison system, which, while in full respect for justice, is increasingly tailored to the needs of the human person.” This, he said, could even include “the use of the non-custodial sentences” or “different modes of detention.”