The penitentiary prophecy:prison as a social workshop

Abstract

The Author presents a comprehensive historical overview of the evolution of prison both in terms of purpose and of living conditions inside. He describes the present condition of perennial overcrowding as well as the characteristics of a large part of prison population, which make the access to alternative measures and the arrangement of a successful rehabilitation programme practically impossible. Special attention is given to such topics as recidivism and the difficult work of prison officers, social workers and doctors. From such considerations the hope inevitably springs that the future may be directed at a different use of prison and at innovative solutions shared in the international legal framework and successfully tested in some other European countries.