Italian Justice - Theatre of the Absurd


Will it ever change? Will we continue to imitate?


Less than two years ago, Italy’s prison system faced a crisis: Built to hold 43,000 inmates, it was straining to contain more than 60,000. So the government crafted an emergency plan. It swung open the prison doors and let more than a third of the inmates go free.

Within months, bank robberies jumped by 20%. Kidnappings and fraud also rose, as did computer crime, arson and purse-snatchings. The prison population, however, fell so much that for awhile Italy had more prison guards than prisoners to guard…

With the justice system at a standstill, prosecution carries little stigma. Consider Italy’s two-time prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi…Mr. Berlusconi is leading in the polls and stands a good chance of being re-elected as Italy’s prime minister this month.

Mr. Berlusconi, who is also one of Italy’s richest men, was convicted in two of the cases brought against him, but the charges were all eventually overturned on appeal or tossed out because the statute of limitations had expired. Other cases are still pending in the courts…

The sorry state of Italy’s prison infrastructure plays a role, too. Prosecutors have charged Salvatore Ferranti for being a henchman of one of Sicily’s fiercest crime families. But last month he was released from the slammer and given house arrest. The reason: He was too fat. The prison system didn’t have beds big enough to accommodate his 462-pound frame.

“The fact of the matter is that obesity is not compatible with prison,” says Lino Buscemi, secretary of the Sicily region’s Department of Prisoners’ Rights in Palermo.

It’s reality TV-jurisprudence.

Thanks, Helen

Posted: Wed - April 9, 2008 at 10:44 AM