Thesis title: L'inserimento lavorativo dei detenuti. Profili problematici e prospettive pratiche del reinserimento sociale
The social reintegration of inmates upon completion of their sentences is one of the most relevant issues for the prison system. This is closely linked, and sometimes inappropriately overlapped, with the provisions of Article 27 of the Italian Constitution, which stipulates that punishment, in addition to its punitive function, must also have a re-educational role. From this perspective, the function of prisoners’ labor during their prison stay, originally intended for a solely punitive purpose, has been reinterpreted. Since the 1970s, labor in detention has therefore taken on a role no longer punitive but aimed at enhancing the re-educational perspective, acquiring characteristics, such as salary, similar to those of free labor. In this regard, alternative measures to detention or benefits have been established that allow inmates to carry out activities for public and private employers: thus, in addition to “semilibertà”, admission to external work has been permitted under Article 21 of the Law of detention system.
This research aims to explore this aspect, considering job placement as a solid foundation for the process of reintegration into society after prison. Therefore, the cognitive objectives and research questions concern the actual usefulness of the activities undertaken by inmates for a successful entry into the labor market after serving their sentence, the importance of support networks in reintegration processes, and the analysis of prisoners’ expectations and desires in light of their experiences.
Hence, a qualitative case study was conducted at the Rebibbia Nuovo Complesso prison, through focused semi-structured interviews. This involved collecting testimonies from inmates and ex inmates who had access to work opportunities inside and outside the prison, as well as from qualified witnesses who have a comprehensive view of the examined phenomenon, depending on their roles. The main results of the research adequately answer the research questions. It’s been hilighted a lack of institutional support for released inmates, sometimes supported solely by voluntary sector organizations; the tasks performed and the resulting skills learned within prison are generally inadequate for subsequent labor integration (whereas, however, employees of external employers acquire more useful skills); and the crucial role played by external support networks, whether family or acquaintances. It also comes out that individual expectations and desires of the respondents are often not reflected in their career aspirations. In conclusion, this research has allowed to enhance the knowledge of the dynamics of social reintegration of inmates at the end of their sentences, also with a focus on the outcomes related to their re-education process.