SAPPE meets the new Head of DAP: “We need real safety in Italian prisons”

Assaults, overcrowding, staff shortages: the union calls for concrete answers

A crucial meeting for prison workers

Today marked the meeting between the SAPPE, the Autonomous Union of Penitentiary Police, and the new Head of the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP), Stefano Carmine De Michele. SAPPE’s delegation was led by General Secretary Donato Capece, along with Deputy General Secretaries Giovanni Battista de Blasis and Giovanni Battista Durante.

The discussion focused on the key critical issues affecting prison police officers, starting with the frequent violent assaults they suffer in their daily duties.

Safety first: enough with daily assaults

Capece was clear: “Without safety, there can be no talk of re-education or reintegration.” The daily violence against prison officers must end. SAPPE is demanding more resources, more staff, and stronger protections. It’s time to move from words to action.

Overcrowding: alternative measures for minor sentences

Another major concern is prison overcrowding, which worsens conditions and makes detention harder to manage. SAPPE is proposing a pragmatic approach: release of inmates with less than one year remaining and alternative sentencing for those with less than three years.

Hiring and training: boosting the workforce

SAPPE is calling for a workforce of at least 50,000 officers, as well as new training facilities to accommodate incoming recruits. Investment in human resources is no longer optional—it’s urgent.

De Michele: “I will visit the prisons myself”

The new DAP chief promised to personally visit correctional institutions across the country, sending a strong signal of institutional support. He thanked SAPPE for its input and committed to continuing the dialogue.