Lights on the women’s prison in Trani

Lights on the women’s prison in Trani

In the 4 women’s prisons – Pozzuoli, Rome Rebibbia (the largest in Europe), Trani and Venice Giudecca – is located about 25% of inmates. The others are housed in the 48 dedicated sections in the men’s prisons. Although the reform of the penitentiary system, which came into force in October 2018, provides that female prisoners in special sections within male institutions must be in “number such as not to compromise the treatment activities” , there are still many Institutes designed and organized for men and more limited activities are destined for the few women present. But if the critical points of the women’s sections are known, what is life like in women’s prisons? Is it really easier to offer resocializing opportunities to inmates?

Joseph Altomare, director of the women’s prison in Trani, tells us about her experience in her institution.

There are more lights than shadows women’s prison in Trani. It may seem like a common place, but in fact it is not, consider all the times you feel like quitting, when one problem is solved, ten more pop up and so on. But the Trani women’s prison is a place that has elements of magic in it. The place, in fact, to begin with. A ancient Benedictine monastery, then Dominican, prison since 1860, located in the heart of the splendid city of Trani, a stone’s throw from the sea. Then there are the people: the staff of Penitentiary police, almost all female; the nuns, three highly experienced nunsthat they have been living the Institute since they were 18 years old, the only ones left of the initial religious group which numbered 15 units. They have always worked side by side, policewomen and nuns, without any rhetoric, in a frank and correct relationship.

Last but not least, there are the women prisoners, with particular reference to those condemned with a definitive sentence, who often show an authentic willingness to review their past and their mistakes. Few (some will say fortunately) the male references: the chaplain, the director, some policeman, some teachers, some doctors.

With these assumptions it is possible to start treatment activities interesting. It starts from work in tailoringfrom the schoolcome on professional training courses (in particular make-up and hairdressing), to get to theatrical activitiesludic-motor activities, up to meetings of psychotherapy group with specialists from the ASL BT, meetings on the Divine Comedy with enlightened and adequately communicative volunteers, and so on. The place is obviously attractive also for the external company. The structure is old, there are certainly maintenance problems. But the women all have lunch together in a common room, the moments of recollection in the ancient internal church exude an authentic spirituality. You can look at the person rather than worth. At least here it can be done.

Lights on the women’s prison in Trani