'Unsolved deaths into 'Unsolved deaths into Police Custody and Police Custody and Prison, abuse of power, Prison, abuse of power, murder or suicide? The murder or suicide? The Reality of the Italian Reality of the Italian Criminal Justice System'Criminal Justice System'

2015

VALENTINA SERRA

LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

'Unsolved deaths into Police Custody

and Prison, abuse of power, murder or

suicide? The Reality of the Italian

Criminal Justice System'

By Valentina Serra

Abstract:The purpose of this dissertation is to critically discuss particular cases of deaths occurring in police

custody and prisons. Academic researchers highlight concern about all these victims who every

year die in custody or prisons and no one is found responsible for these deaths. For instance,

Cucchi and Uva’s deaths remain unsolved cases of murder. The research aims to understand who is

responsible for this deaths. In Italy, there is a long history of abuse of power in which political

parties and public authorities, such as the police, are primary involved. There is a need to

understand if the Italian Criminal Justice System is fully involved into these abuses of power. In

Italy, police culture seems to be relevant, which is protected by the Parliament. A specific crime of

torture is still an important factor which influences the decision of the magistrates in finding the

responsible in such as cases of deaths. This thesis also analyses other social issues, such as

overcrowding in prisons and suicide, which interest is growing around in academic literature.

Overcrowding in prisons is an important issue. Italy was found guilty of breaching the European

Convention of the Human Rights and was fined. In addition, the rate of suicide in increases every

year and seems to be an effect of overcrowding in prisons, and because of unfair punishment and

social inequalities which surround the Italian Criminal Justice System.

Acknowledgements2

I would like to thank you my Supervisor Professor Devinder Curry for his valuable

help and guidance throughout this research. I am also grateful to the Professor Anna

Sergi, I am extremely thankful and indebted to her expertise and valuable guidance

extended to me. I also thanks my parents and friends for the unceasing,

encouragement, support and attention.

Contents Page:

Chapter 1: Introduction and Chapter Summaries 43

Chapter 2: Literature Review 7

2.1 -Cases of abuse of power: From the 1960’s until now.

2.2 -Issues of politics/ corruption and how it may

influence what goes on in prisons and police custody.

2.3- Giuseppe Uva : unknown death under police custody.

2.4- Suicide and overcrowded prisons.

Chapter 3: Methodology 12

3.1- Participants and sample strategies

3.2- Advantage and disadvantage of the interview- Data collection

Chapter 4: Findings 15

Chapter 5: Analysis 20

Conclusion 22

Appendix A: Participants Information and Consent Form 24

Appendix B: Interview Guide Questions 1 29

Appendix C: Interview Guide Questions 2 30

Appendix D: Example of Interview Transcription (translated into English) (see

Appendix E: for all interview transcriptions in Italian) 32-37

Appendix F: Evidence Giuseppe Uva's body and Documentary 48

Appendix G: Photos of prisons living conditions 50

Appendix H: Report 51

References 52

Chapter One - Introduction:

Constitution of Italian Republic: Article 27

The punishment shall not consist of treatments against the sense of humanity and they shall be 4

aimed at the re-education of the sentenced person

(Senato della Republica1947:10)

The Italian Criminal Justice System is based on the ancient Roman Law and French principles,

which are written laws. The system is comprised of courts and a body judges which are composed

by Italian civil servants. The Judiciary and prosecutors have roles which are autonomous from the

political, executive and legislative power (Beentham 2002). The penal law defines what kind of

behaviour is criminal and what specific penalties need to be inflicted on the offender. In the penal

law, all kind of penalties are defined, the minimum and the maximum (IBP 2009). The penal law is

formed by four fundamental principles: principle of legality, materiality, offensiveness and guilt. In

Article 27 of the Italian Constitution, it is argued that no penalty can be inflicted without a law and

no crime can be convicted without a law. In addition to this, all citizens have the same human

rights; if someone commits an offence, he cannot be convicted without a trial and imprisoned

without a final fair sentence pronounced. Furthermore, imprisonment needs to be used for the

purpose of the rehabilitation (IBP 2009).

Prisons should be safe places for everyone who is involved in them.

(Council of Europe, 2006:959)

This thesis aims to systematically research what occurs within Italian Prisons, in custodies with

particular regards to crime, control and punishment. It examines the various serious problems

around Italian prisons, such as suicides, overcrowding and murders. There will be a discussion of a

case of death, Giuseppe Uva who was beaten to death after a week in police custody. Recently, the

media have reported on the story of Stefano Cucchi, one of the many episodes of victims who died

under the protection of the law public authorities. In 2009 in Rome, Stefano Cucchi was arrested

for possession of drugs and held in police custody for a week. During that week, Stefano was

beaten several times and was then taken to the hospital where he died. The autopsy showed clear

evidence that Stefano had received physical abuse. His family knew that something was amiss

regarding his death. The court accused eleven people of being involved in Cucchi's death. Since

2009, Cucchi’s family have fought for justice. However, no one has been charged with his death

due to a lack of evidence (Day 2004).

According to Baccaro and Morelli (2009), statistics show that between 2000 and 2015, every year

150 people died inside Italian prisons. That is an overall figure of 2370 inmates dead, 848 of

whom had committed suicide. As for the remaining dead inmates, some had died of natural causes

5

and some for unclear reasons. In addition, Day (2004) argued that some people who were arrested,

held in custody or sent to prison hd been beaten to death. However, no one has been judged

culpable. “In the 2012, the Italian Minister of Justice, Paola Severino, acknowledged the shocking

levels of violence, abuse and overcrowding in Italian prisons and pushed for reforms that have yet

to be adopted'” (Day 2004:1).

The rationale for researching Italy is based on various factors. In 2012, in the Annual Report of

International on Prison Conditions, published by the USA, it was argued that in Italy the issue of

overcrowding persists. In 2012, “in Italian prisons 66.529 inmates were held in 206 prisons

designed to hold 47.048 people” (Calderone & Manconi 2011). The Council of Europe also

claimed that Italy is classified at the third place in Europe owing to overcrowding in prisons

(Baccaro and Morelli 2009). Thus in 2013, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) fined

Italy 100,000 Euros after finding Italy guilty of violating Article 3 of the ECHR (ANSA 2013).

This dissertation aims to understand what it is happening into Italian prisons and custody, analysing

who is responsible for these deaths. There is a particular focus on the Italian State, Government,

Ministry of Justice, law public authorities and their power over citizens with reference to Italian

prisoners. It will also investigate the possible reasons behind overcrowding and suicides in prisons.

In addition to this, another aim is to understand if the Italian State is not strong enough to stop

these situations or if there is another reason behind their present failure. The research question is

the following:

'Unsolved deaths into Police Custody and Prison, abuse of power, murder or suicide? The

Reality of the Italian Criminal Justice System'

In order to satisfy the research matter, the research aims to interview the sister of a victim,

Giuseppe Uva, who died in police custody. Furthermore, there will be three additional interviews in

order to analyse the theoretical aspects of the Italian Criminal Justice System and Prisons Law.

The first subheading provides a brief history of abuse of power from the 1960s until the present

with a particular reference to important cases of death in police custody. The second subheading

discusses the particular case of Giuseppe Uva’s death. The third subheading looks at certain

political issues, such as corruption and how it may influence what it is going on in prison. The

fourth subheading explores the various issues of Italian prisons such as suicides, unknown causes

of deaths and overcrowding.

6

The second chapter is the methodology. It discusses the approach adopted, examining its strengths

and weakness. The ethical issues are also included in this section.

Chapter three, the findings, compares the different views of the respondents. The findings are

divided into four different themes: murder and suicide, power of the public authorities, Italian

prisons and its inhuman conditions, and human and prisoner Rights.

Finally, Chapter four concludes the dissertation with a discussion of the final findings and

previous literature review. It reviews the hypothesis of the research and its validity and the possible

new findings which might give a contribution to the extant literature.

Chapter Two - Literature Review

2. 1 - Cases of abuse of power: From the 1960s until now.

When they opened the cell, it was too late because Mike hang cold with a rope

around his neck.

(De Andrè, 1961:117)7

According to Calderone and Manconi (2011), in Italy abuse of power and unknown deaths have a

long history. For instance, Giuseppe Pinelli’s death is an important case of abuse of power which

has been recognised as such by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. Pinelli was an

anarchist railway worker who died between the nights of the 15 and the 16 December 1969 after

apparently falling from one of the balconies of the police station in Milan. Pinelli had been

wrongly accused and arrested in connection with a bomb explosion in a bank close to Piazza

Fontana (Milan) on the 12th December. Some people argued at the time that Pinelli had committed

suicide. Conversely, others claimed that Pinelli was murdered inside the Police Station. Another

similar case is the murder of the anarchist Franco Serentini (Foot 2003) .In 1972, protests against

the Italian Fascist government were carried out by young people in Pisa. At that time, Serentini was

involved in the protest and was one of the many people who were beaten by police. Two days later,

he died in prison due to having lost a certain amount of blood and receiving no medical care

(Ginzburg 1999). But these are only two cases of unknown death inside police stations; many

others, such as Nanni De Angelis (1980), Salvatore Marino (1985) and Federico Aldrovandi

(2005), are important cases in which the abuse of power was present (Calderoni and Manconi

2011).

In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Italy guilty of violating Article 3 of

the European Convention of Human Rights on different occasions (ACTC 2013). In few words, the

following sentence is the process followed in order to set up Article 3:

No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading

treatment of punishment.

(Morgan and Evans cited by Dickinson 2010:139)

The most recent occasion occurred in 2012 in Rome; a woman claimed to have been raped by three

police officers while was hold in custody. Moreover, the second most recent occasion happened

when some victims such as Cucchi and Uva were arrested, held in custody and beaten to death by

gendarmes and police officers. Another occasion includes violence against ethic minority groups,

who were subjected to a racist attack by police officers and public authorities. For instance,

Emanuel Boncu Foster, a Ghanaian student, was arrested on suspicion of selling drugs. During his

arrest and interrogation, he was beaten and racially verbally abused. In the report presented by the

emergency services, various injuries to the skull and throat were discovered. In addition, a case of

violence and inhuman degradation happened in 2001, in Diaz School in Genoa. Around 200 young

8

people, who occupied the school as a protest for G8, were arrested and subsequently humiliated

and tortured by gendarmes such as police officers (ACTC 2013).

2.2- Issues of politics / corruption and how it may influence what goes on in

prisons.

According to Beetham (2002), in the last decade, Italy has been through different political changes

regarding its democracy. Different political parties and organisations were created. These

organisations are comprised of Italian citizens who have the right to administer the national

political life. These citizens belong to the elite ruling classes. In addition to this, particular

institutional changes were made in national, regional and local electoral law. Italy is a democratic

republic where the executive, judiciary and legislative powers are exercised by different organs of

the state. Moreover, the judiciary has a high level of autonomy. However, it is still limited due to

issue of corruption which the political system is involved in (Beetham 2002). “Since 1992, judicial

investigations disclosed a complex and widespread system of political corruption with bribes going

in part to enrich individual politicians and in part to finance the political parties” (Beetham

2002:22).

“Italy has the world’s ninth-largest defence budget” (IBP 2014:8). In addition, Italy is the only

country in Europe which has five different types of police: state police force, Carabinieri, Excise

Police, Police employed in prison surveillance, and State Forest Corps (Tanzi 2009). These public

authorities have their own autonomy; they are in fact not controlled by political institutions.

Furthermore, the majority of the members of parliament do not have enough knowledge on the

reality of police. Normally, political parties support public authorities, such as the police, because

they can obtain from them the majority of votes for the political election. These are a few of the

many reasons why police and other public authorities abuse power especially directed against

Italian citizens. Furthermore, in Italy a specific law against torture does not exist yet. This may be

another cause of abuse of power (Pallida 2014). The UN Committee Against Torture requires that

each state introduce a specific law which must define torture as an official and unique offence.

Nevertheless, Italian political parties focus only on two particular parts of the definition. The first

looks at torture as an offence which is defined in relation to the amount of pain and suffering

sustained. For the second part, there are different opinions. Some people want to introduce torture

as an offence for everyone. Conversely, other people want to introduce the “Reato Proprio” which

9

excludes the conviction of public authorities from this offence thereby allowing them to commit

this particular crime (Marchesi 2008)

2.3- Giuseppe Uva: unknown death under police custody.

Giuseppe Uva’s death is a particular case of abuse of power occurring in Italy. Two versions of

Uva’s death were presented. One is from the public authorities involved in this case. The other is

from Alberto Bigioggero, Uva’s friend, who was also present the night of Uva’s death. According

to the version told by the public authorities, on the 13 June 2008 Uva and his friend got drunk and

later decided to go out on the street. In their way they found some hurdles that closed the street.

For fun they decided to move them in the middle of the street. Police arrived and asked them to

stop making a mess in the street. However, the couple were quiet drunk and did not stop. They also

shouted and swore at the officers. At 3.50 am, Uva and his friend were arrested and brought to the

police station. Contrary to this version, Bigioggero argued that one of the police officers who

arrested them knew Uva. Indeed, Uva had confessed to his friend that he met a woman who was

married to a police a few times. So when the police officer saw him he said, “I was looking for

you, now I will make you pay for what you did last time”. Uva was scared and tried to go away.

The officer then pushed Uva in the street and arrested him and his friend. Moreover, according to

the public authority’s version, when the two arrived at the station, Uva seemed to be worried about

something. Therefore, he started to shout, smashing things on the floor. He became aggressive and

violent and eight police officers were on Uva trying to keep him quiet. Then the police decided to

call the ambulance because Uva was still aggressive. Doctors injected Uva with so much that he

died. Bigioggero claimed that Uva’s story was completely changed by the authorities. Indeed,

when they arrived at the police station, Uva was taken into a room with other police officers for a

certain amount of time. Bigioggero heard his friend shouting and asking for help so he decided to

call an ambulance. However, the emergency service called the police station to confirm the request

before sending an ambulance. The police denied this, saying that the people who were arrested

were only drunk. Finally, at 5 o’clock, an ambulance arrived at the station, but this time it was

called by the police. At the same time Bigioggero, was driven home by a police officer. The

following day, Uva’s friend went to report what had occurred at the police station. However,

because of his mental health problems, nobody believed him. Anyway, Uva’s family was called in

the morning after the episode. Uva’s sister, Lucia, immediately went to the hospital. When she saw

her brother’s body, she quickly realised that something untoward had happened and decided to take

some pictures. Uva’s face was swollen, his nose was broken, and he had two holes, one in the

10

cheek and another in the shoulder, which seemed like cigarette burns. He did not wear underwear

but instead he had a nappy and his backside was full of blood. After eight years, Lucia Uva is still

fighting to obtain justice for her brother, however no one has been found guilty yet. Giuseppe Uva

is one of the many victims killed by the public authorities (Verdelli, 2014).

The Attorney in this case is Agostino Abate from Salerno, an important magistrate who won all the

cases against Uva’s death. Abate filed this case and nobody was found guilty. He declared that Uva

died because of the combination of sedative and alcohol. Then he changed his version, claiming

that Uva died due a heart attack (Verdeli 2014).

2.4- Suicide and overcrowding in prisons.

During the course of the history, suicide has attracted the attention of many researchers,

philosophers and sociologists trying to understand what can occurs in a person’s life which can

lead them to commit suicide. This phenomenon is a “serious public health” really common in

prisons and also still a big issue which people try to challenge. However, sometimes the failure is

unavoidable (WHO 2007). In the last ten, 1560 inmates died inside Italian prisons, of which, 558

committed suicide. As the report on suicide showed, people who committed suicide had certain

problems of mental illness, especially people who do not have social and family support; physical

problems and some others are addicted to drugs (Pelanda 2010). Other factors, such as stress,

conviction of a long sentence, being in custody, can influence inmates to commit suicide (WHO

2007). Most of these people are young and no one has found an explanation for why they want to

commit this decisive act. Every one or two days an inmate commits suicide (Pelanda 2010).

Overcrowding in prisons is another important issue that faces Italy. As Pelanda (2010) argued, in

Italy there are 205 prisons with a total of 43,000 cells and a maximum capacity of 60,000

prisoners. However, overcrowding in prisons still a serious issue. Currently Italian prisons

accommodate more than 64,323 thousand people and each prison has on average 859 inmates. In

addition, there are different categories of inmates due to the type of sentence. The defendants

include those people who are waiting for the pre-trial, pending appeal, recurring, those who are

finally convicted, and those who have partial freedom. Mackinson (2013) argued that 22,770

inmates are foreigners coming largely from Morocco, Tunisa, Romania and Albania. As

aforementioned, on 2009 for the first time Italy was found guilty of violating Article 3 of the

European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) with a particular reference to the issue of

overcrowding. On 5 of June 2012, the ECHR created a sentence called “Pilot”. This was created

11

after seven inmates, from different prisons of Lombardia and Emilia Romagna, complained about

the living conditions in their prison. Some of them were sharing a nine square metres space with

four other people; only three square metres per person. Additionally, restrictions for showers were

imposed owing to the lack of warm water. Another issue was the insufficient lighting inside cells.

This sentence was “in view of the structural and systematic problem of overcrowding in the Italian

prison system” (Maccanico 2013:1). A year was given to Italy to resolve this overcrowding

problem. However on 8 January 2013, Italy failed, after 4,000 inmates had done recourse for these

degrading inhuman conditions. Finally, Italy was fined by the ECHR 100,000 Euros, which was

given to the applicants. Furthermore, Italy was forced to pay 1,500 Euros for inmates’ legal costs

(Maccanico 2013). In the same period, important research on Italian prison system was carried out

by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture. The published report

highlighted the fact that in many Italian cities, prisons have bad conditions due to the lack of

facilities which worsens the living conditions of inmates (ECHR 2013). According to Della Bella

(2014), the rate of overcrowding in Italian prisons has slightly decreased. In 2011, capacity was

147 %; by2012, it was 145%. Finally, in 2014, the rate decreased further to around 122%. Despite

improvements , overcrowding is still an issue controlled by the ECHR.

Overcrowding in prisons is not only the result of higher crime rates or improved effectiveness in

investigating crimes and sanctioning perpetrators. The problem is also related to the excessive

length of criminal proceedings and the subsequent pre-trail detention. And, above all, it is related to

the insufficient use of non-custodial measures (Baccaro and Morelli 2009). Moreover, in 2010, the

Italian Parliament introduced two new laws called “Reimpicarceri” which are the Bossi-Fini law

against immigration and the Fini-Giovanardi law against drugs. Consequently, people who are

convicted and imprisoned for minor offences, such as minor penalties under three years, continue

to fill Italian prisons (Baudino 2014). Overcrowding in prisons is also a factor which can create

certain effects on offenders and public communities. Offenders who live in certain degrading

conditions can develop mental problems which can create further issues for their re-integration into

communities (Baudino 2014).

Chapter Three - Methodology

In order to gather data in relation to the research topic and aims, qualitative method was adopted.

The qualitative approach is a method which belongs to the Interpretivists’ view. Social researchers

look at the world in a subjective way, studying people’s behaviours, their experiences in details

through a set of specific research methods (Lapan, Qaurtaroli & Reimer 2012). Looking at this

12

research proposal is possible individualised the reason behind the method chosen. Indeed, the

research question focuses on Italian prisons, how this method of punishment works with a

particular reference to the criminal justice system. It aims to understand who needs to be blamed

for those unknown deaths in prisons and in police custodies. In addition, the research question

explores other important issues involved in prisons, such as suicides and overcrowding. As

Letherby and Bywaters (2007) argued, looking at the purpose of a research is the only way to

understand what kind of approach should be used. For Vanderstoep and Johnson (2008:7),

“Qualitative research produces narratives or textual description of the phenomena under study.” In

this research, the interview method was chosen in order to focus on the personal experiences,

attitudes and opinions of certain people in order to have a better understanding of certain issues.

Through the use of the interview method, the researcher gains new knowledge or a different insight

of a certain topic such as the studying of different political views (Kumar 2008).

3.1- Participants.

For this research, five people were selected for an interview and each one for a different purpose.

However, one of the participants had to withdraw at the last minute for unknown reasons.

Moreover, the first participant was Lucia Uva, sister of Giuseppe Uva, who died in police custody.

The sister of the victim was selected as an example of personal experience in this kind of situation,

i.e., a death in custody. It might also be possible to explore the causes behind the victim’s death and

the reaction of his family. However, as Kumar (2008) argued, there may be a problem of validity.

This is because the respondent might give distorted descriptions of attitudes and perceptions when

emotionally involved in a past experience. Thus the researcher need to make sure that the

participant is protected from harm including physical and psychological. Sometimes when people

participate in an interview, expressing themselves can be harmless. For example, in this case

participants can be affected by psychological stress (Love 2012). The second person chosen for this

research is Valentina Calderone, who works for an organisation called “a Buon Diritto”, which look

after the rights of citizens. This is important in order to understand what it is happening within the

Italian Government and the criminal justice system and analysing how public opinions justify these

huge amount of deaths in Italian prisons and who is behind this cruelty and abuse of power. The

third participant is Ricardo Noury, a spokesman of Amnesty International Italy, who knows the

Human Rights inherent to all human being with reference to people who commit offences and go

inside prison to serve the sentence. Furthermore, he was selected because the literature review

explores the problem of Human Rights, which are not fully respected by public authorities, and the

13

problem of the definition of torture. The last interview focused on the Criminal Justice System’s

law, its literature and the gap between academic researches and politics. Indeed the last participant

is Susanna Marietti. She is the national coordinator of the Antigone association, which focuses on

Human Rights with reference to the life of inmates. She also works as a researcher for the the

European Prison Observatory.

3.2- Advantage and disadvantage of the interview - data collection.

The interview chosen is semi-structured. According to Grix (2001), in a semi-structured interview,

the researcher follows a structure but the questions can be flexible because there is not a specific

order to follow. The results is more likely to be more in depth responses from the participants. If

the researchers are not fully satisfied with the answers already given by the participant, they can

always change the subsequent questions. Another benefit of this research method is that

researchers, face-to-face, can easily gain trust and support from participants. Semi-structured

interview is the most common technique used to conduct a research, owing to its flexibility of

asking questions. Also, the findings can be compared, contrasted and transformed into statistics

(Hunter and Dantzker 2006). Moreover, in this research, two different interview guides with

different questions were used, even if each interview focused on the same themes (the questions

schedules are included in Appendix B-C). Each interview lasted an hour and was conducted by

Skype from London to Italy. The access to the participants was gained through an email and

Facebook. It took three weeks before receiving the replies from the participants. In the email, the

purpose of this research was included. After they replied, the participants were sent further

information about the interview, such as the date, its approximate duration and the place. This is

called informed consent, which is considered to be an important ethical issue of the interview

method (the informed consents are included in Appendix A). Indeed, in social research, the

participant needs to be advised of the nature of the research (Klenke 2008)

Thereafter as ethical code, the anonymity (name, details and information shared by respondents) is

guaranteed by the confidentiality form which need to be completed by the participants (Klenke

2008). However, in this research the participants agreed to be part of the research because it could

be a way to gain voice in particular issues, sharing with others their own experiences and

opinions (Babbie and Rubin 2011). Thus, in the transcripts, the real names of the participants were

used. The interview was recorded, translated from Italian to English and transcribed (Appendix D-

E). Using a tape recorder, social researchers can have time to take extra notes and also can be easy

14

to have a better understanding of respondents’ behaviour and reactions. Researchers can have the

opportunity to highlight those particularity that might be important for the purpose of the research

(Babbie & Rubin 2011). However, the interview method also has disadvantages. For example, the

transcription process consumes plenty of time. This research was translated from Italian to English.

The languages are different and cannot literally be translated word for word (Leonardi 2007).

Because Italian is the first language of the researcher, perceiving any reactions to particular

questions and gaining trust was easier. The findings were coded through themes. Each theme was

highlighted in the transcripts with a different colour. These themes were then analysed and

summarised (McKay 2011).

This research is not fully valid and reliable because firstly the research had different interview

guides, thereafter the respondent’s answers to certain questions and findings were difficult to

compare between each other. Thus, qualitative analysis is not generalizable because a small sample

is used. For example, in this research there are only four participants and so the results cannot be

generalised to all the population. Also, if other researchers want to repeat a secondary research,

different results might be obtained. This is because the results of a piece of research are subjective.

In other words, researchers have their own interpretations of the findings of a particular topic

(Potter 1996). In this research there is another limitation: the academic literature review is limited

because this topic is still under research. In Italy, academic books, on this particular topic, are

difficult to find. Furthermore, the data is restricted at the country interested and it cannot represent

other regions and nations.

Chapter Four - Findings

Findings were selected in two ways. Firstly, the data was split into four central themes that arose

during the interviews. The themes are highlighted in different colours (see Appendix C). Green was

used to highlight relative information on abuse of power by public authorities with reference to

Giuseppe Uva’s death. Red identifies all the information about the Italian Criminal Justice System

and police culture. Blue points out details around Crime of Torture. Finally, yellow highlights

additional issues, such as overcrowding and suicide in relation to Italian prisons. Secondly, a

narrative analysis was engaged in order to interpret what participants said and their own opinions

on the currently topic.

15

4.1- Abuse of power by public authorities with reference to Giuseppe Uva’s

death.

Anyway if you asked me, who needs to be blamed for these victims… this answer

should come from the magistrates, but they need to tell me that someone did it!

(Susanna, Coordinator Antigone).

The most predominant theme that emerged from the interviewees addressed the problem of abuse

of power by public authorities in particular circumstances. The discussion revealed that abuse of

power by public authorities, such as Police and Carabinieri, is something common. Each

participant talked about some relevant episodes of violence that occurred in police custody.

Examples of abuse of power and violence were given and the main ones were Stefano Cucchi,

Giuseppe Uva and Federico’s deaths. In addition, police were blamed for these deaths.

Susanna (Coordinator Antigone) argued that “for example, Federico Aldrovandi,

young boy, died in Ferrara in 2005. He was killed by four police men and they were

found guilty and convicted only for 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment. Also at

the time, those police officers complained for their conviction.

(page 33, lines 42-46).

Moreover, Ricardo (Spokesman, Amnesty International) specified the fact that these deaths often

occurs in police custody, which he called “detention centres”. “Who needs to be blamed? The

state. However, we do not know who was really involved” (page 40, lines 270-271).

The various episodes of abuse of power and violence by public authorities demonstrated the

incompetency of the Italian Criminal Justice System for failing to bring justice and truth. This

perspective was shared by all participants. More detailed information about Giuseppe Uva’s death

was given by his sister, who was one of the participants. Lucia (victim’s family) talked about his

brother’s death, what happened on that particular night. She highlighted the fact that she took

photos of hr brother’s body (see Appendix F ) , in which was evident that he may be abused and ill-

treated.

I am not afraid to say that I blame Police and Carabinieri for Giuseppe's death!

They abused their power, beating my brother to death

(Lucia, victim’s family, page 38, lines 194-195).16

Only one participant pointed out that not all police officers use violence. However, she also argued

that “most of the time police officers protect guilty officers, trying to protect each other”

(Valentina, A Buon Dirittto, page 45, lines 389-392).

4.2 - Italian Criminal Justice System : Police CultureThe Criminal Justice System seems to be an element relevant to all these cases of abuse of power

using violence. As Ricardo (Spokesman Amnesty International) argued (page 1, lines 30-34),

“political institutions always promote public authorities, such as police. This is because they have

always been protected by the government! It is in our culture!”

All participants have the same opinion about the protection of the police seen as a part of our

culture. In the Criminal Justice System, magistrates are the people who need to bring justice.

However, there is a problem of failure in justice when public authorities such as the police are

directly involved in this particular crime. In addition, when an officer is involved in abuse of

power, the case is normally passed and investigated by police and these can be colleagues of the

accused officer.

Thus, as Valentina (A Buon Diritto) claimed, “public authorities usually try to

protect their colleagues, so no one will convict or go against each others. This is

called the ‘Spirit of Brotherhood’, which in the police is relevant” (Page 1; line 34-

39). Aldrovandi, four police officers were blamed and convicted for his murder and

then another sentence, called '' Androvandi Bis'' has been opened , in which

apparently other police officers from Ferrara, were convicted after been accused of

hidden important evidence related to Aldrovandi's death ( Page 45; line 403-407).

The Criminal Justice system seems to be ineffective and incoherent especially in regards to the way

in which punishment is inflicted. This perception was shared by all participants.

4.3- Crime of Torture

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As mentioned before, it is important to highlight what kind of professional job is done by the

participants. In particular, Susanna and Ricardo. These two participants have shared in depth

knowledge of the profession and their vision of a possible reason of abuse of power by public

authorities with reference to the crime of torture. Indeed, “torture” was the word which was mainly

repeated by participants. Participants claimed that in Italy, in the penal law, torture is not defined as

a specific crime. Ricardo (Spokesman Amnesty International) argued:

There is not a law , which allows people to use torture on offenders or inmates.

There is not a law, which can justify this act. It is simply! Government does not

consider torture as an important social issue, so it is not necessary to introduce its

meaning as crime into Italian penal code

(page 41, lines 304-306).

Moreover, Susanna blames the Parliament as responsible for failing to introduce torture in the

penal code as criminal law. Both participants see this a big issue. Magistrates need to follow the

penal code in order to convict someone for an offence. However, if in the penal code there is no

relevant definition, this means that no one, including police, can be punished for it.

'' Abuse and Torture occurred in Italy in 2001, according to the court ruling, more

than 200 people were tortured by public authorities, however no one has been

convicted for it ''(Ricardo, Spokesman Amnesty International, page 41;line 281-284)

4.4- Overcrowding Prisons and Suicide.Overcrowding in prisons and suicide were two additional social issues mentioned by the European

Court of Human Rights, in which Italy was also convicted and fined. This particular topic is well

known to all participants. They claimed that even though Italy had been fined by the ECHR,

nothing changed. There has been a small improvement in overcrowding. However, it is still an

issue in which Italy has failed and is failing. This problem is justified in different ways. A

highlighted problem is how the criminal justice system works, its penal code and the way

punishment is inflicted. A problem related to the Italian criminal justice system is that people are

held in custody, in pre-trial, until convictions are given. As Susanna (Coordinator Antigone)

argued:

Punishment is strong against weak people and its results weak against strong people

(page 34, lines 65-66).

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''Torreggiani is a ''pilot sentence'' set up by the European Court of Human Rights,

Mister Torreggiani is an inmate who claimed that he was living in degrading and

inhuman conditions for several months, with other 6 inmates, into a cell with 3

square metres per person. This sentence was a guide to follow in order to sort out

the overcrowding issue' (Valentina, A Buon Diritto page 45-46; line 418-422).

''We also have an office that deals with case around abuse of inmates, for example

the famous '' Torregiani Case'' that we brought to the European Court of the Human

Rights (Susanna, Coordinator of Antigone Association, page 32-33; line 18-20)

Furthermore, even if the interviews were on specific social issues, other important factors were

raised by participants which can justify the reason of overcrowding in prisons and the violence and

aggression against offenders on behalf of public authorities. Punishment and social inequalities

seem to be important problems. These two latter factors are used by the participant as an additional

justification of overcrowding in prisons. Most of the people sent to prisons are from lower social

classes and/or are immigrants. The length and the type of punishment have been set up in order to

control the social classes. Susanna (Coordinator Antigone) says:

It is evident that the Fini-Bossi immigration law has been created only to punish

people, such as immigrants (page 34; lines 71-73)

Another punishment, for people addicted to drugs, was mentioned: set up in order to eliminate

those people from the society. Valentina (Coordinator Antigone) argued that, “[The] Criminal

Justice system should not punish people who take drugs, in contrast they should be sent to

institutional places, such as probation” (page 2; line 74-77). Suicide as participants claimed can be

a consequences of overcrowding prisons and to the social inequalities. Suicide is an act, which is

common in prisons.

Italy has a high percentage of suicides, in comparison to other countries in the

world (Susanna, Coordinator Antigone, page 35; line 102-103).

The same perspective was shared by all participants. Most of the people who committed suicide in

prison already had difficult lives outside. Indeed, inmates were from broken families, immigrants,

or people who were only waiting for a pre-trial. In addition, drug dealers and people addicted to

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drugs also commonly commit suicide. Also, as already mentioned, living conditions, such as lack

of heating, warm water, and space, contribute to the act of killing oneself.

5- AnalysisThis chapter aims to outline what participants’ views mean to existing arguments in the field. But

also a new literature was cited in order to analyse new information given by participants. There

will be a comparison and discussion of their opinions to findings made by other researchers. This

will be done following the previous themes.

The findings of the second theme “Italian Criminal Justice System: Police Culture” both supports

and contradicts the studies of Pallida (2014) and Tanzi (2009) and Beetham (2002), all of whom

suggest that the criminal justice system is in part responsible for the abuse of power by public

authorities. Indeed, political parties support and protect police because of culture but also for other

reasons, such as obtaining votes for elections. In fact, as IBP (2014) and Tanzi (2009) previously

argued, the Italian State spends huge amounts of money on defences. Italy has five different types

of police and each one composed most of the vote in the political elections.

However for this topic, participants introduce a different perspective which can be related to 20

“Police Culture”. They claimed that there is a protection between forces, a kind of solidarity,

named “Brotherhood” that does not permit successful investigations of criminal cases in which

police officers might be directly involved. This statement’s veracity is recognised in criminological

theories. An important factor which develop the “Brotherhood” is the isolation mentality of police

officers. Police see themselves out of the society, they feel isolated. Normally they cannot trust

people outside of their police community in which belong. Consequently, there is a sort of

solidarity among police, where loyalty and trust for each other develop (Ivkovic 2005). However, a

police culture may have a negative impact on police officers’ attitudes and behaviours through

enforcement of norms constituting the ‘code of silence’ (Ivkovic 2005:81).

On one side, previous studies suggest that this abuse of power is due to the corruption of the

political system. This problem of “corruption”, as previously mentioned by Verdelli (2014), is

evident in the case of Giuseppe Uva’s death. Indeed, Agostino Abate, the Attorney of Uva’s case,

has recently decided to close the case without having found any responsible for Uva’s death.

During the investigation, Abate changed the version of Uva’s death story two times. He also

decided to fight in court against the Lucia’s family instead of findings those responsible. On the

other side, the other participants do not mention the word “corruption”, but they pointed out the

inconsistency and ineffectiveness of the Italian Criminal Justice System in reference to magistrates

and public authorities. This is confirmed by Crocetta (2015) who argues that the criminal justice

system is still slow and ineffectiveness. Instead, the previous literature, in particular Pallida (2014),

focuses on the political system. It is argued that Parliament does not have enough knowledge about

the reality of the police. Also, as Beetham (2002) earlier stated, the judicial organ of power, in

particular the public authorities, have their own autonomy, which are not controlled by the

Parliament.

The theme around “Crime and Torture” is supported in the previous literature, by Marchesi (2008),

who argued that the absence of a specific crime of “torture” in Italy is another factor which,

unconditionally, allows police and public authorities to abuse their power and citizens. This is

further supported by the participants who highlight the point that Government does not see torture

as a social issue and also is responsible for having failed to introduce torture as a crime into the

penal code. Moreover, the study of Marchesi (2008) found that the crime of torture is indeed

written into the Italian penal law. However, the definition focuses on the pain and the suffering

inflicted. Thus, Parliament wants to introduce a second definition, which will exclude public

authorities such as the police from the crime of torture. This would automatically permit them to

use violence on offenders. This is an additional piece of evidence that shows the protection of the

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public authorities by Parliament with reference to the political parties. Indeed, introducing the

definition of “Reato Proprio” into the crime of torture automatically excludes public authorities

from this offences thereby allowing them to abuse of their power

Earlier in the Chapter 2.4, additional social issues have been discussed, such as overcrowding in

prisons and suicides which are in particular related to the Italian Criminal Justice System. As

mentioned earlier, Pelanda (2010) and Mackinson (2010) stated that the issue of overcrowding

seems to be a social problem in which Italy was convicted and fined by the ECHR. The ECHR

created a plot judgement procedures, called “Torreggiani”, which pointed out several measures

which Italy needed to undertake in order to resolve overcrowding. This information was also

highlighted by participants. One in particular, Susanna, argued that the Antigone Association was

responsible for having brought the cases of the inmate “Torreggiani” to the European Court of

Human Rights in order to report that Italy had violated the Article 3 of the ECHR.

In addition, findings suggest that this social issue has been improved. However, it is still under

consideration. A particular reasons, which can explain overcrowding in prisons, was given by

participants. The fact that people endure lengthy waits for a sentence in custody is highlighted.

This argument was already recognised by academics, including Pelanda (2010), who stated that

before someone is convicted, they usually need to stay in custody in pre-trail, pending appeal or

recurring for a certain time. However, Davoli and Raffaelli (2014) raise another important point,

which demonstrated that overcrowding prisons owing to the lack of non-custodial measures.

Consequently, prisons are filled up of people who already have a hard life outside, such as people

who are addicted to drugs and from broken families. This latter is suggested by participants who

argue that there is unfair punishment and a selection in regards to the convictions of offenders. In

both finding and previous literature, the problem of social inequalities within the criminal justice

system are pointed out. This is shown by two laws called Fini-Bossi against immigration and Fini-

Giovananrdi against drugs, which allow magistrates to give a hardest punishment against certain

types of crimes.

Suicide, as mentioned in Pelanda’s (2010) study, is a concern exacerbated by overcrowding in

prisons. People, waiting for a sentence or already convicted, cannot live in degrading inhuman

condition such as sharing a cells in which each inmate has only three square metres. However,

suicide in prisons is also committed by people with certain problems of mental illness or who are

addicted to drugs. This is further confirmed by participants who suggest that living conditions,

such as lack of heating or warm water, can contribute to the act of suicide. Moreover, participants

22

also mentioned that people who are addicted to drugs are more likely to commit suicide due to

abstinence, suggesting that the criminal justice system should help them instead of locking them in

a cell.

Conclusion

This dissertation aimed at exploring various social issues related to the criminal justice system and

abuse of power with particular regards to cases of deaths in police custody. Abuse of power seems

to occur often in police custody. For example, Cucchi and Uva’s deaths are cases of deaths relevant

both in literature and findings, which is also highlighted by the media. As previously argued,

someone is clearly responsible for these deaths. However, currently nobody has been convicted

because sometimes magistrates find really difficult to apportion responsibility and blame. This is

because Parliament, and especially the criminal justice system, does not have enough knowledge of

the reality of the police. Indeed, on one hand some academic researchers argued that the Italian

Criminal Justice System is incapable and ignorance and has lack of skills which can be helpful in

order bring truth and justice. On the contrary, other researchers argued that abuse of power is due

to the corruption within the political system.

The corruption within the political system might be considered because, for example, in political

parties there is still a certain protection versus police culture. Indeed, police culture is surrounded

by protection from political parties and Parliament. Moreover, in political elections, the various

political parties obtain most of the votes from public authorities. Another important point is that

within police culture exists the feeling of Brotherhood. Indeed, police are usually isolated from

society, so they need to protect each others. Consequently, if a police officer is investigated by a

colleague, the investigation will be not fully valid. In Italy a specific crime of torture has not been

introduced into the penal code yet. This is an additional factor which might be relevant in

magistrates’ work when they need to find those responsible for a crime. Automatically, this allows

public authorities, such as the police, to use violence against offenders. Also, magistrates need to

follow the penal code, so if torture is not specified as a crime, no one can be convicted.

Even if this research focuses on abuse of power within custody, other social issues, such as

overcrowding in prisons and suicides, which are connected to abuse of power and prisons, were

raised by academic researchers. Overcrowding in prisons is another problem within the Italian

Criminal Justice System. Italy was found guilty and successively convicted for violating Article 3

23

of the European Convention of Human Rights. Inmates were living in degrading and inhuman

conditions, such as sharing three square metres into a cell. Two possible explanations to this, such

as the excessive length of criminal proceedings and the subsequent pre-trail detention and the

insufficient use of non-custodial measures, are given by academic researchers. Unfair punishments

and social inequalities seem to be two important reasons which can give an answer to the question

of why prisons are filled up of certain types of offenders, such as people addicted to drugs or from

broken families. Moreover, suicide is found to be an effect of overcrowding in prisons. In Italy,

there is a high level of suicides in prison. People who commit suicide are normally from the lower

classes.

Overall, this research project is a single case study, so it is not possible to generalise these findings

to the whole population, due to the low numbers of participants involved in this research. However,

three participants have a high level of knowledge of this particular topic and a high position in

society so it is possible to argue that their opinions should be take into consideration. Moreover,

another side of the Italian Criminal Justice System, its incapability and ineffectiveness, was raised

by participants, which can debate the previous literature about the Italian political corruption.

Through this enquiry, in the future another research around Criminal Justice System power of

police and social inequalities, can be drawn.

Appendix A

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON METROPOLITAN

FORM OF CONSENT TO TAKE PART IN A RESEARCH PROJECT

CONFIDENTIAL

Investigation:

Brief outline of the project , including an outline of the procedures to be used: The aims

of the research is to understand the reasons behind the mysterious deaths inside police

custody in Italy. There is a particular focus in understanding what it is happening in Italy ,

who is behind these deaths and the abuse of power by the Italian State and Police officers. In

24

addition , it will look at the different opinions shared by the audience. This project is a

qualitative methods , semi-structure interview by Skype. The interview you are about to take

a part in will be tape recorded. All the answers that you will give will remain confidential.

Your views are really important for us, but it is up to you to decide whether or not you would

like to take a part. There is no pressure to do so. It also important to note that there are not

right or wrong answers; just be as open as you can. If you agree to take part please read and

sign the consent form( Attached). If you do consent but find that do want to continue , you

can withdraw at any time without giving an explanation.

Thank you.

Participant Consent Form:

Consent Statement:

I have read the information sheet. Yes

I have had an opportunity to ask questions about the research Yes

and am satisfied by the answers given

I am clear about the purpose of the study and willingly volunteer Yes

to be involved.

I agree to be recognised in the research with my personal details. Yes

I am aware of what participating in this study will involve. Yes25

I am aware that I can withdraw from the interview at any time Yes

without proving a reason for doing so.

I agree to participate

Signature : Susanna Meretti

Date: 20/12/14

Participant Consent Form:

Consent Statement:

I have read the information sheet. Yes

I have had an opportunity to ask questions about the research Yes

and am satisfied by the answers given

I am clear about the purpose of the study and willingly volunteer Yes

to be involved.

I agree to be recognised in the research with my personal details. Yes

I am aware of what participating in this study will involve. Yes

26

I am aware that I can withdraw from the interview at any time Yes

without proving a reason for doing so.

I agree to participate

Signature : Ricardo Noury

Date: 18/12/14

Participant Consent Form:

Consent Statement:

I have read the information sheet. Yes

I have had an opportunity to ask questions about the research Yes

and am satisfied by the answers given

I am clear about the purpose of the study and willingly volunteer Yes

to be involved.

I agree to be recognised in the research with my personal details. Yes

I am aware of what participating in this study will involve. Yes

I am aware that I can withdraw from the interview at any time Yes

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without proving a reason for doing so.

I agree to participate

Signature : Valentina Calderone

Date: 15/12/14

Participant Consent Form:

Consent Statement:

I have read the information sheet. Yes

I have had an opportunity to ask questions about the research Yes

and am satisfied by the answers given

I am clear about the purpose of the study and willingly volunteer Yes

to be involved.

I agree to be recognised in the research with my personal details. Yes

I am aware of what participating in this study will involve. Yes

I am aware that I can withdraw from the interview at any time Yes

without proving a reason for doing so.

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I agree to participate

Signature : Lucia Uva

Date: 10/01/15

Appendix B

Interview Guide Question 1

Do you want to be identified in the research?

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Could you explain your relationship to Giuseppe Uva?

Can you tell me how your brother got involved in crime?

Had Giuseppe Uva been in prison before?

Can you tell me what is happened to your brother?

Do you know why Giuseppe went to prison?

After Giuseppe was arrested , did you see him again? Or did he contact you?

So after his death , what is it happened? What did the court declare? Who was considered guilty of his death?

What are the evidences in the body of... might show the causes of his death?

Who do you think was behind Giuseppe murder? Police? Prisons authorities , doctors..etc.. Do you have any evidences that show that?

Did someone who work for the government (police, prisons authorities, lawyers) stay by your side?

29

What do you think about the work of the Italian criminal justice system with regards to your personal experience?

What do you think about public authorities such as police, prisons guards is their job effective? Are they under control of the government or are they separate from other public authorities?

Appendix C

Interview Guide Question 2

Would you like to tell me something about yourself?

Do you want to be identified in the research?

Have you ever heard about case of suicides and murder into Italian prisons in the last 14 years?

What are you knowledge around these issues?

Who do you think was behind .. these murder? Police? Prisons authorities , doctors..etc..

What do you know about the murder of Giusepper Uva ?

Do you have any evidences that might show or confirmed your theory?

What do you think about the work of the Italian Criminal Justice System?

what about the punishment? Is it equal for everyone?

Is the Italian criminal justice system effective? Is it link to politics or they can take different

decisions?

What do you think about public authorities such as police, prisons guards is their job effective? Are

they under control of the government or are they separate from other public authorities?

30

What do you think about the government? Who give instructions to them? do you think the Italian

State ( Public authorities?) are corrupted or not strong enough to stop these murders and suicides?

In the last 14 years , 2363 people died inside prisons and 863 of them committed suicide, do you

think were they real suicides or some might be simulated?

On the 2013, Italy was fined of 100.000 euro by the European Court in Strasburg for its inhuman

living conditions for prisoners, what do you think about it? Do you think the authorities who work

for the Criminal justice system took it serious and will try to change or it will be continues to be

the same?

So according to the statistics Italian prisons are overcrowded, do you know the reason behind? Can

you suggest something that might improve this situation?

Also it is argued that the prison should be the safest place in the world, so why people are scared to

go inside? Do you think the Italian State respects the prisoners’ rights? And what about the Human

Rights?

Do you know what the problems are with the Human rights and prisons rights?

31

Appendix D

Example of Interview Transcription (translated into English)

Interview Guide N° 1 : Susanna Meretti

Interview by Skype: London -Italy. January 2015

Susanna Meretti was the first interviewer for this research. She is the Coordinator of Anti-

gone association and works as researcher in the European Prison Observatory. The re-

search question is Unsolved Deaths into Italian Prisons , abuse or power, murder or suicide:

The Reality of the Italian Criminal Justice System.

Interviewee: Good Morning Susanna. How are you?

Interviewer: I am very well! Thank you!

Interviewee: I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to have an interview with

you today. I am a student, at the third year of criminology, at the London Metropolitan University. I

decided to do my dissertation around the issues within Italian prisons and the inhuman conditions

in which inmates lives. My research question is Unsolved Deaths into Italian Prisons , abuse or

power, murder or suicide: The Reality of the Italian Criminal Justice System. But before to start , i

would to ask you if you would like to be identified in my research?

Interviewer : Yes ! It is fine!

Interviewee: so firstly , would you like to tell me something about yourself?

Interviewer: I am the Coordination of the ''Antigone Organisation'' which was set up in the 1991.

Before this organisation was only a magazine. This organisation looks after the prisons rights. In

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the 1998 the Observatory of Italian Prisons was developed by this organisation after gained full

authorisations from the Italian Ministry of Justice. An unique case in Europe, 45 – 50 people who

work for this organisation , are allowed to visit Italian prisons , basically they have the same

power of public authorities , for example people who work in the parliament. Indeed those people

have free access in prisons . Since 1998 , every year we visit Italian prisons and we publish the

annual report about prisons and its conditions. In addition , we also have an office that deals with

case around abuse of inmates, for example the famous '' Torregiani Case'' that we brought to the

European Court of the Human Rights. Few years ago , we decided to connect our organisation with

other organisation around Europe, so then we set up the European Observatory, where each organ-

isation of each country can use their own tools to help and look after prisons and inmates. In partic-

ular, Italy has the authorisations from the Ministry of Justice, so still a particular rare case. Usually

organisations , from other countries , work with lawyers and public authorities in order to gain ac-

cess to certain information. Instead , Italy presented a good project to the European court and

won the funds to create the ''European Prisons Observatory''. I also work in this organisation as re-

searcher.

Interviewee: Perfect! Thanks for your information, your job sounds really interesting! Now I

would to ask you if have you ever heard about case of suicides and murder into Italian prisons in

the last 14 years? What are you knowledge around these issues?

Interviewer: Well, the rate of suicide is definitely bigger than one showed by statistics. What do

you mean by murders?

Interviewee: Wait, before let me give you more information of what I am doing in this research,for

my research I will also interview other people, such as the families of the two victims , Giuseppe

Uva and Federico Perna, who were beaten to death in custody and prisons.

Interviewer: oh OK... you are talking about the cases of abuse of power and torture!now it is more

cleared! Yes! There are two victims , who died into police custody and prison. Lucia Uva is still

fighting together with Ilaria Cucchi and Domenica Ferrulli. Remember in Italy , we do not have a

law against Torturer.

Interviewee: I would like to know , who do you think we need to blame for all these deaths?

Interviewer: Well, I am not able to blame anyone , because I am not a magistrate , however I know

that someone needs to be blame of this deaths! Also , in Italy , rarely , in some episodes who viol-

ence , some people were found involved , some are public authorities. For example, Federico

Aldrovandi, young boy, died in Ferrara in 2005. He was killed by four police men and they were

found guilty and convicted only for 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment . Also at the time, those

police officers complained for their conviction. They asked to be sent to probation instead of

prison. For me , this is was ridiculous!

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Another example is the sentence for Stefano Cucchi, which all the defendants were acquitted. No

one is found guilty , especially police did not appear in one of the sentences, even if Cucchi was

killed inside police custody. I believe that a particular protection is around public authorities, this

show the opposite of a democracy state. our state should be free and protect our rights , however

the story of Torture as a crime can demonstrate the opposite. As a mentioned before, we do not

have any law against crime of torture , many times people tried to introduce this law , however it

always been stopped by members of Parliament. Antigone Association is still fighting for the in-

troduction of law against Torture.

Anyway if you asked me , who need to be blame for these victims.. this answer should come from

the magistrates , but they need to tell me that someone did it! Because the episodes are not too dif-

ficult to investigate into it. For example ,usually in prisons, maximum 50 people works there, and I

believe that those responsible are not difficult to find , especially into a prison , which the environ-

ment is closed. This means that someone saw something but does not want to talk about it. It is

evident.! We need to understand the reason behind this protection.

Interviewee: Yeah ! This is true, we need to understand who is behind all these episodes of murder

and violence. So do you think about the Criminal Justice system, is the punishment equal for

everyone? O depends on the people involved? Or on magistrates?

Interviewer: I believe that in overall , the criminal justice system (Before than now)

works in two different ways, its punishment is strong against weak people and it results weak

against strong people, indeed if you look at the prison population, most of them are poor people,

with economic disadvantages, however there is not a reason why only poor people need to be sent

to prisons. For example, anthropologists did not affirm that all the poor are more criminals then

high classes , I do not see any reason why people from the south are more criminals than people

from the north . Also I do not see why foreigners are more criminals than italian people. It is evid-

ent that a section into law has been created to punish people , such as immigrates . For example the

Fini-Bossi Law against immigration. What about the people addicts to drugs? Those people are

treated as criminals, we should have use a different approach based on health , on social politics.

We you only punish big drug traffickers , leaving those young people , who only sell some weed or

hashish because they need some money to survive. On contrary we should help them. We can see

that criminalisation is a big issue in society. While others crimes , such as white collar crimes are

invisible to the society. In prison, this type of offender represent only 4% of the total inmates.

Interviewee: do you think that the criminal justice system is politicised? Is it everything linked to

the government?

Interviewer: In general, public authorities, such a police, are under the control of the Minister of

Interior. However it is politicised. For example, you know already about the fine given by the

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European Court of Human Rights because Italy violated the Article 3 of the Human Rights. I can

tell you that until now Italy has done a lot changes and set up few reforms in order to sort out some

issues, such as overcrowding prison.

Interviewee: So in which way police and other public authorities are under the power of the gov-

ernment?

Interviewer: it is difficult to answer... but if you think , laws exists so public authorities need to

follow them. Laws are also over the government , so everyone need to respect them. The only fact

is that the impunity for public authorities, but this is under all governments , public authorities are

protected and and most of the time are unpunished! In all the sentences were police were involved,

nothing happened , no one has been convicted. This is because the Parliament failed in the intro-

duction of the crime of Torture I the Italian penal code. But on the other side, there Is the choice

of criminalisation, who need to be criminalised, for example, in Italy public prosecutors have their

own autonomy, they do not depend on the politics or government, so they follow their own way.

Moreover, magistrates and courts are governed by the High Council of Judiciary, which is not gov-

erned by the government or parliament, it is autonomous.

I believe that since Italy became a Republic, there is a certain culture , which create a sense of pro-

tection in respect of public authorities. So people create theories in which some people, such as

drugs dealer are those people who need to be punished while police is seen as heroes.

Interviewee: in the last 14 years , 2363 people died inside prisons and 863 of them committed sui-

cide, do you think were they real suicides or some might be simulated?

Interviewer: Well I believe that , the majority of suicides into prisons are real suicides, Italy has

an high percentage of suicides, in comparison to other countries in the world. This is for two reas-

ons: the first reason, as already mentioned, is because our criminal justice system has a way of

selecting offenders, which normally are people , who are marginalised from society. So people,

who are send to jail,have already a difficult social life, such as broken families, employed, prob-

lems of addiction to drugs. In addition to this , the second reason is that these people are send in-

side an environment ,in which life conditions are not really easy, in which until an year ago ,

people were living in an overcrowding environment. Today the conditions are a bit better, how-

ever Italian prisons still overcrowded. In prisons there is a lack of healthcare, sometimes heatings

are not working. Also most of the time , inmates stay inside the cells for twenty hours without do -

ing anything . Sometimes people are sent to a prison that is far from home, so for them is difficult

to see their own families. So these are reasons that can make people think about suicide as the only

way to escape from these problems. On the other side, I think that between these number of sui-

cides, there may be a case in which the person did not decide to commit voluntary suicide but

maybe there is someone behind his death. Sometimes , people do not investigate behind a case of

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suicide. For example , a men, who died few years ago into Bari's prison, no one investigated on this

suicide and I think there was the need to investigate.

Interviewee: -On the 2013, Italy was fined of 100.000 euro by the European Court in Strasburg for

its inhuman living conditions for prisoners , what do you think about it? Do you think the Italian

State took it serious and will try to change or it will be continues to be the same?

Interviewer: firstly, on 8 January 2013, Italy was not only fined by the European Court, that

money were only the first amount, because then a huge amount of inmates tried to appeal for the

same problems. 100.000 euro were given to 7 inmates, the first was Torreggiani, which his sen-

tence is the famous ''Torreggiani sentence'', indeed Italy was convicted of violating the Article 3.

This fact is awful , because we have a modern democracy and we cannot still have problems such

as violence or tortures.

After European court fined Italy, created a ''Pilot Sentence'' in which there are politic instructions ,

which Italy must to follow. These instructions were combined by three main tasks: in one year

Italy needed to sort out the problem of overcrowding prisons, needed to create a new way of effct-

ive justice , so an inmate can complain for problems regarding the Article 3, and also needed to

create a compensatory mechanism for those people , who suffered for the same problems regard-

ing Article 3, so they can be compensated with money.

So after that, Italy set up new reforms and decree, I believe that in the last year, these changes were

positive and the living conditions into prisons are much better, however there is still a lot work to

do on these issues.

Interviewee: so what do you think Italy should change or improve?

Interviewer: Well after sort this problem of overcrowding prisons, I will definitely improve the

healthcare, indeed into prisons, there is a lack of healthcare,also I will improve the right of educa-

tion and work, because most of the prisoners do not work, sometimes they only work , 2 hours per

day ,two times a week , which it is ridiculous!.

Interviewee: Well, Susanna, I believe you answer to all my questions. Thank you very much for

your time . I will send you a copy of my dissertation! Have a good day!

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Appendix E

Interview Guide N 2 : Lucia Uva:

Interview on Skype: London -Italy. January 2015

Lucia Uva is the sister of Giuseppe Uva. This interview is the only one with these specific

questions.

Intervistatore: -Prima di tutto le volevo chiedere se vuole essere identificata con nome e cognome

nella mia tesi di laurea, o se vuole essere anonima?

Intervistato:Si, voglio essere idenficata con nome e cognome.

Intervistatore: Puo' brevemente raccontarmi di se stessa? Di che cosa si occupa nella vita?

Intervistato:Mi chiamo Lucia Uva, sono mamma di 4 figli e nonna di 5 nipoti. Sono sposata con

mio marito Paolo da 13 anni e viviamo insieme ai nostri piccoli "bambini", come li chiamiamo noi:

i nostri 8 cani! Mi occupo della mia grande famiglia e della mia casa.

Intervistatore: Potrebbe dirmi qual'era la sua relazione con Giuseppe ?

Intervistato:Giuseppe Uva era mio fratello minore. Avevamo un bel rapporto, come quello che si

può avere tra sorella e fratello fatto di bisticci, abbracci, sorrisi e tanto tanto bene.

Intervistatore: Mi potrebbe raccontare cose è successo a Giuseppe?

Intervistato:La sera del 14 giugno 2008 dopo aver finito di lavorare, una volta a casa e fatta una

doccia Giuseppe va a casa dell'amico Alberto Biggiogero a vedere la partita di pallone.

Finita la partiti sono usciti e si sono recati in un bar di via Dandolo a Varese. Dopo aver bevuto un

pochino, decidono di uscire dal bar e vedono delle transenne sistemate al alto della strada. 

Quelle stesse transenne sarebbero servite il giorno dopo perchè era prevista una festa in paese.

Giuseppe e Alberto decidono di transennare la strada e quindi di modificare la viabilità della strada.

A un certo punto passa di li una pattuglia di carabinieri e si ferma. Come testimoniato da Alberto,

subito si fermano e in malo modo e con toni accesi fermano e portano dentro la macchina sia lui

che Giuseppe perportarli dritti in caserma.

Intervistatore: Sai perchè era stato in arrestato ?

Intervistato: Giuseppe non è stato arrestato, è stato portato in caserma e sottoposto a un fermo

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perchè aveva transennato la strada e commesso, come detto da loro, il reato di "disturbo alla quiete

pubblica".

Intervistatore: Dopo che Giuseppe venne arrestato, l hai più rivisto? O lui l ha contattata?

Intervistato:Si, l'ho rivisto ma purtroppo senza vita.  L'ho visto il giorno dopo, verso le 15 del

pomeriggio sul tavolo dell'obitorio. La mattina dell'accaduto Giuseppe aveva fatto contattare dal

personale medico dell'ospedale di Circolo di Varese le altre mie due sorelle.Io quella mattina ero in

viaggio per le vacanze e quando ho ricevuto la telefonata di mio figlio dove mi diceva che mio

fratello era morto, ho fatto subito retromarcia e mi sono recato all'ospedale.

Intervistatore:Dopo la sua morte cos'e successo? Cosa hanno dichiarato i magistrati in corte?

Intervistato:Secondo il pm, i carabinieri e tutti coloro che hanno inizialmente svolto le indagini,

Giuseppe sarebbe morto per un cocktail di farmaci sbagliati.Solo con la seconda autopsia, voluta

da me e la mia famiglia, abbiamo scoperto la triste verità che purtroppo temevo: Giuseppe è morto

per le lesioni subite che hanno provocato un arresto cardiaco.

Intervistatore: Chi era/è stato dichiarato colpevole per la morte di Giuseppe?

Intervistato:Della morte di Giuseppe erano stati incolpati i medici dell'ospedale Circolo di Varese

ma sono tutti stati assolti durante il processo durato 4 anni.

Intervistatore: Che tipo di evidenze ci sono che riguardano la morte di Giuseppe?

Intervistato:Oltre alle palesi contraddizioni dei carabinieri testimoniate dalle intercettazioni rese

note e pubbliche anche nel fim-documento del regista Adriano Chiarelli, ci sono numerose foto del

corpo del mio povero fratello scattate proprio da me perchè per mia fortuna quel terribile giorno,

dovendo partire per le vaacanze, avevo in borsa una macchina fotografica e ho avuto il sangue

freddo di fotografare il corpo di mio fratello. 

Era pieno di ematomi e contusioni, sulla mano e sulla faccia si potevano anche notare delle

bruciature di sigaretta.Sui vestiti che Giuseppe indossava quella sera, precisamente sul cavallo dei

pantaloni, c'era una macchia di sangue di 16 cm e larga 6. Sulla cintura, sulle scarpe e sulle calze

c'erano macchie e schizzi di sangue, in tutto 78.

Intervistatore: A chi daresti la colpa della sua morte? E perchè? , inoltre è una sua intuizione o ci

sono delle evidenze chiare che affermano quello che hai appena raccontato?

Intervistato:Io do' la colpa ai carabinieri e ai poliziotti che quella notte erano con Giuseppe.

Penso, e non ho paura a dirlo, che abbiano abusato del loro potere e abbiano picchiato mio fratello.

Loro si difendono dicendo che mio fratello era agitato tanto da autolesionarsi. Dichiarano inoltre

che le lesioni riportate se le sarebbe autoinferte proprio in caserma. Alla luce di queste

dichiarazioni io mi chiedo, com'è possibile che sei uomini non siano riusciti a contenere  un uomo

solo? Anche se questo agitato così tanto da farsi del male?  Non credo per niente a questa versione,

e credo proprio che le dichiarazioni dei carabinieri contenute in quelle intercettazioni, dove

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ridacchiando tra loro affermano che Giuseppe era "contenibile" e "debole" rispetto all'uomo

fermato la notte precedente, siano ulteriori prove a favore della mia tesi.

Intervistatore: Qualcuno che lavora per il governo (esempio polizia, guardie penintenziarie

avvocati o politici) è /sono stati al tuo fianco per la lotta alla giustizia di Giuseppe?

Intervistato:Certo, molti mi sono stati vicino e mi hanno sempre sostenuta durante questa mia

battaglia. Tutt'oggi mi sostengono e continuano con me questa lotta per la verità. 

In primis i miei grandi avvocati, Zanzi e Ambrosetti, il Senatore Luigi Manconi che con la sua

associazione "A buon diritto" mi ha sempre sostenuta, il movimento 5 stelle, i radicali e il pd. 

Un grande sostegno l'ho avuto anche dal mondo di Facebook.

Intervistatore: Cosa ne pensi del sistema di giustizia italiano? E sulle pene inflitte ai detenuti? Sono

uguali per tutti?

Intervistato:Penso che il sistema di giustizia italiano sia inefficiente, inadeguato e "funzioni" a

rallentatore. Credo inoltre sia ingiusto e non coerente. Dico questo perchè non riesco a capire

secondo quali criteri vengono inflitte le pene troppo dure in certi casi e troppo poco dure in altri.

Intervistatore: Cosa ne pensi del Ministero della Giustizia, del Consiglio superiore della

magistratura ( CSM) ? Credi che sono troppo deboli per fermare quello che sta succedendo nelle

carceri italiane? (Il CSM non riesce a trovare i colpevoli di queste morti o semplicemente

nasconde l evidenze?)

Intervistato:Il CSM, per quanto mi riguarda, ci prova a fare il suo lavoro. Ci prova a trovare i

colpevoli di queste "misteriose" morti, ma combattere contro dei muri, contro le bugie e contro chi

nasconde la verità non è per niente semplice.

Intervistatore: Cosa pensa che sia il problema della prigioni sovraffollate? La polizia che fa il suo

dovere? Criminali in prigione? Cosa potrebbe essserci dietro tutto questo?

Intervistato: Ritengo le condizioni delle carceri italiane assolutamente vergognose e drammatiche.

Il sovraffollamento grava sulle condizioni di vita dei detenuti e questo è un problema che lo Stato

non è in grado di risolvere, e di questo ne abbiamo purtroppo infinite prove. Il carcere dovrebbe

essere un posto dove viene promossa la riabilitazione del detenuto che ha commesso il crimine, ma

sappiamo benissimo che questo non avviene, o per lo meno avviene raramente.Ormai sembra che

l'unica cosa che venga promossa sia l'umiliazione dei detenuti, il maltrattamento e la non curanza

dei loro diritti. 

Intervistato: Ti ringrazio davvero tanto per aver trovato tempo per questa intervista, ti mandero' la

copia della tesi. Buona Giornata!

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Interview Guide N° 3 :Ricardo Noury.Interview by Skype: London -Italy. January 2015

Ricardo is a spokesman of Amnesty International Italy, who knows the Human Rights inherent to

all human being with reference to people who commit offences and go inside prison to serve the

sentence.

Intervistatore: Salve, come sta? Prima di tutto la ringrazio di avere accettato di far l intervista, se

non mi sente bene me lo dica!

Intervistato: si, si, Perfetto!

Intervistatore: anche io , grazie mille. Prima di tutto volevo introdurre me stessa, sono una

studentessa all ultimo anno di criminologia a Londra e ho deciso di fare la tesi su dei problemi che

ci sono in Italia per quanto riguarda le prigioni italiane e sopratutto sugli abusi di potere. Quindi sto

cercando di intervistare alcune persone che hanno conscenze su questo livello. Prima di tutto

volevo ringraziarti di averti dato l oppportunità di intervistarla e volevo sapere se voi essere

identificata nella mia tesi di laurea?

Intervistato: Certo, mi puoi identificare come Riccardo Nuory, portavoce di Amnesty International

per l Italia.

Intervistato: io lavoro per L amnesty International, per il blog come il Fatto Quotidiano , per il

Corriere della Sera e per un sito di giornalisti che si chiama L Articolo 21. Lavoro all Amnesty

International dal 1980 e sono portavoce dal 2002

Intervistatore: quindi cosa fai nell' amnesty international

Intervistato: come portavoce , mi occupo un po di tutto. Sono la persona che racconta ai media

quello che Amnesty international fa. Quindi devo avere una competenza generale sui paesi, sulle

campagne che portiamo avanti a livello globale . Poi ho I miei ambiti piu specifici che sono sulla

medio orientale. E la pena di morte e la tortura.

Intervistatore: Hai mai sentito parlare di omicidi e suicidi che avvengono all interno delle carceri

italiane?

Intervistato: Si pero devo precisare una cosa , sarebbe piu corretto definirli centro di detenzione ,

infatto luoghi dove sono avvenuti queste morti, in alcuni casi non sono neanche luoghi di

dentenzione, perche in alcuni casi , persone sono state uccise dalle forze di polizia in luoghi , in

strada. Come aldrovandi. O nel caso di Stefano Cucchi e Giuseppe Uva, non è correto carceri ma

sono centri di traattenimento , di dentenzione. Giuseppe Uva è stato portato nella stazione di

polizia. Quindi in inglese sarebbe la police custody. Persono private della liberta, e tenuti in un

posto per un interrogatorio, un fermo ecc.

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Intervistatore: Quindi cosa ne pensi di questi omicidi, a chi darebbe la colpa?

Intervistato: beh in tanto il primo elemento importante è che a fronte di un sacco di morti

avvenute nelle mani delle forze di polizia , quindi in custodia , o in carcere o in altri luoghi, negli

ospedali psichiatrici , il fatto che in pochissimi casi ci sia un processo che è arrivato alla

conclusione , che stabilisce chi è responsabile indica che ci sono due ordini di problemi. Il primo è

quello generale del ritardo della giustizia italiana, e il secondo un po piu grave e rilevante è quello

dell inpunita. Per amnesty international questa parola è la chiave di comprensione di tanti

fenomeni della violazione dei diritti umani. La mancanza di volonta da parte delle istituzioni e

delle autorità, la mancanza di volonta di cercare verita e giustiza. Chi è stato? È stato lo stato, ma

nella maggior parte dei casi non sappiamo chi, e volte non sappiamo quali immagini sono state

fatte all interno per chiarire la responsabilita, quindi l elemento che emerge da questo è qesto

sistema di inpunità che rende difficile accertare la verità.

Intervistatore: quindi cosa ne pensa del sistema giudiziario italiano? Sulle pene che vengono

inflitte, sono uguali per tutti o c'è una selezione?

Intervistato: questa è una domanda molto impegnativa , che sia uguale per tutti, è facile dire che

non lo è. La ricerca di amnesty international non è a 360 gradi sul sistema giudiziario. Quello che

posso dire è che nei casi di violazione dei diritti umani , oltre all inpunitè, cè un elemento molto

importante di cui tener conto. Cioè la prescrizione che è breve nel nostro paese , e nei casi in cui la

morte di una persona nelle mani di forze di polizia si sospetta che sia stata causata da tortura, rende

impossibile la punizione dei responsabili . Questa è una cosa che ha fatto la differenza in tanti casi .

Esempio le torture avvenute nel 2001, nella caserma di Bolzanito , a Genova , secondo la sentenza

giudiziaria , oltre 200 persone sono state torturate, però nel codice penale non ce la parola tortura,

quindi questo significa che la prescrizione ah fatto sia che queste persone non vengono punite. Dal

punto di vista della violazione dei diritti umani che si occupa amnesty international , no non è

uguale per tutti . È proprio per la mancanza del reato di tortura nel codice penale, è successo che a

genova, per i fatti occorsi nel g8 , nel 2001, sono stati punite con pene maggiori persone che hanno

falsicato documenti piuttost persone che hanno commesso torture su quelle persone

Intervistatore: incredibile! Quindi un altra domanda, pensi che il sistema giudiziario sia

politicizzato pensi che ci sia una autonomia o è tutto collegato?

Intervistato: io come cittadino italiano, non posso dire che il sistema italiano sia corroto, nei casi

di violazione dei diritti umani in cui si è occupata amnesty international , che sono due filoni,

torture e maltrattamenti durante il police custody, e uso eccessivo della forza durante

manifestazioni in questi casi quello che è immeros è la mancanza da parte delle istituzioni italiane

nel cercae verità e giustizia . Questo chiama in causa principalmente le forze di polizia che hanno

un potere molto grande in italia chiamo in casa le istitutzioni politiche che pensano che la poliza

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vada diffesa a tutti I costi e solo in piccola parte chiamo in causa la magistratura , perchè si basa

sulle leggi disponibili , si basa sul livello di collaborazione di chi è chiamato a rispondere e spesso

sfugge alla sua responsibility , evitanto di collaborare e ricostruire I fatti accaduti. Quindi se

pensiano ai fatti di violazione dei diritti umani avvenuti dal 2001 a oggi , possiamo dire che ce un

problema di mancata giustizia in italia , e dunque il sistema giudiziario è venuto meno ail dovere

che ha , che è quello di to deliver justice in maniera parziale e tempestiva.

Intervistatore: quindi la tortura è legale in italia? Non ce nessuna legge che afferma il contrario

Intervistato: possiamo dire che la tortura non è vietata , proibita , dunque non è illegale. Non ce

una legge che autorizza a torturare , non ce una legge che la giustifica , semplicemente nel codice

penale questa parola non ce . È quindi questo vuol dire che , il segnale, l assenza di una legge può

essere interpretato come il segnale che il problema non è cosi importante. Questo è il messaggio

poltico che arriva. Il messaggio giudiziario è che non essendoci una legge che punisce quel reato ,

le pene che vengono emesse sono inferiori alla gravità del reato , perchè quello che fanno I giudici

è cercare nel codice penale qualche tipo di che piu o meno possa corrispondere al reato di tortura.

Pero il reato propro , autonomo, non esiste. Quindi qua le forze di polizia che compiono questo atto

non possono essere punite.

Intervistatore: quindi pensi che le punizioni inflitte sono di tipo retributivo o deterrente?

Intervistato: quello che dice la nostra costituzione è molto chiaro , la pena dovrebbe avere un

effetto riabilitativo, in realta nelle carceri italiane spesso la riabilitazione manca, è un intervento di

tipo reppressivo che si puo avere una funzione deterrente , però la deterrenza sta nella riabilitazione

non nella punizione.

Intervistatore: Sai che nel 2013 l' Italia è stata multata di 100.000 euro dall Corte Europea a

Strasburgo per le condizioni di vita inumane dei detenuti, cosa ne pensi di questo fatto? Pensi che

dal 2013 ad oggi qualcosa sia migliorato nelle carceri ?

Intervistato: rispetto a quella sentenza della corte europea, no non è migliorata, riguardava il

sovraffolamento , aveva come criterio lo spazio minimo a disposizione, è ha dato ragione a uno

poi anche ad altri, che aveva denunciato il fatto che lo spazio a disposizione nella sua cella era

inferiore a quello stabilito a livello europeo . La corte ha dato un anno per mettersi in linea, e non

mi risulta che l abbia fatto. Il sovraffolamento è ancora un problema e se ogni detenuto si

rivolgerebbe alla corte europea, l italia sarebbe costretta a pagare una somma enorme.

Intervistatore: comunque sono i diritti dei detenuti di vivere in condizioni decenti.

Intervistato: si! Questo è un diritto garantito ai detenuti , il fatto che una persona abbia commesso

un reato e deve trascorrere un tot di tempo privato della liberta personale, non fa venir di meno i

diritti che gli sono riconosciuti come essere umano , quindi il diritto alla dignità , che in carcere

vuol dire avere delle condizioni adeguate dal punto di vista fisico , dal punto di vista dele curanze

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mediche, e da punto di vista dello spazio a disposizione . Quindi questi diritti quando vengono

violati si fa ricorso agli organi di giustizia italiani o in quel caso europei.

Intervistatore: quindi cosa pensi che ci sia dietro i problemi dei detenuti e degli Human Rights?

Intervistato: credo che il piu importante sia il sovraffolamento , quella è la causa di una seria di

altri problemi che ne derivano , e sono problemi che riguardano anche le condizioni di lavoro del

personale delle carceri, condivide con i detenuti una certo stress, perche non fa piacere nessuno

lavorare in un ambiente nel quale hai delle persone , in alcuni casi anche violente e che comunque

vivono in condizioni indegne, quindi è importante sottolinearlo. In generale in italia i problemi

legati ai diritti umani, uno è il mancato adeguamento agli standard internazionali , primo da tutti la

mancanza di reati di tortura. In secondo luogo ce un problema enorme di violenza contro le donne.

Intervistatore: bene, ti faccio un ultima domanda , un altro problema in italia sono i suicidi che

avvengono all interno delle carceri, ho letto che in italia ci sono stati negli ultimi 14 anni 2363

persone sono morte nelle carceri italiane e 863 hanno commesso suicidio, pensi erano reali o alcuni

sono stati simulati? Perchè la gente commette suicidi in carcere? Quando il carcere dovrebbe

essere il posto piu sicuro al mondo, dove il cittadino è protetto dallo stato.

Intervistato: forse è il luogo in cui si sente piu minacciato dallo stato, perchè è un rapporto di

forza tra chi ha tutto il potere di privare della libertà una persona , una persona che chiusa e

confinata in una cella, poi ce da considerare l atteggiamento brutale delle guardie che provocano

una reppressione maggiore . Molti detenuti mi risulta che si sono suicidati, non persone che

avevano certezza della pena ma persone che erano in attesa di giudizio, alcuni erano stranieri ,

persone con un problemi psicologici maggiori perche lontani dalle famiglie. E altri avevo problemi

di droga e magari non hanno resistito alla assenza. Io non posso dire che tra questi centinaia di

suicidi una percentuali siano finti suicidi , ci sono tanti motivi per suicidarsi , sarebbe importante

avere una maggior cura per i detenuti! Questo si!

Intervistatore: bene io ti ringrazio davvero tanto per l intervista! Buona giornata

Interview Guide N 4 Valentina CalderoneInterview by Skype: London -Italy. January 2015

Valentina Calderne works for an organisation called '' a Buon Diritto'' , which look after the rights

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of citizens.

Intevistatore: Buongiorno! Salve Valentina!Come Stai?

Intervistato: io tutto bene grazie, e tu?

Intervistatore: anche io , grazie mille. Prima di tutto volevo introdurre me stessa, sono una

studentessa all ultimo anno di criminologia a Londra e ho deciso di fare la tesi su dei problemi che

ci sono in Italia per quanto riguarda le prigioni italiane e sopratutto sugli abusi di potere. Quindi sto

cercando di intervistare alcune persone che hanno conscenze su questo livello. Prima di tutto

volevo ringraziarti di averti dato l oppportunità di intervistarla e volevo sapere se voi essere

identificata nella mia tesi di laurea?

Intervistata: Certo! Figuarati!

Intervistatore: potresti raccontarmi un po' di te stessa ?

Intervistato: si , bene, io lavoro per ''a buon diritto'' da una decina di anni, e da un paio sono

diventata direttrice . La nostra associazione si occupa principalmente di libertà civili, la privazione

della libertà , quindi i diritti delle persone , immigrazione e particolarmente i rifguggiati di asilo e

libertà teurapetica. Dopo di che abbiamo anche pubblicato nell Ottobre del 2014 un rapporto sull'

italia che si chiama '' Articolo 3'' . in questo rapporto pasrliamo di 17 temi che sono 17 diritti che a

nostro avviso nel nostro paese non vengono garantiti. Il lavoro che ti interessa sulla privatizzazione

della libertò nasce perchè Luigi Manconi, il presidente dell'Associazione , quando nel 2006 era

segretario alla giustizia , ha cominciato ad oocuparsi della morte di Federico Aldrovandi, il ragazzo

di Ferrara. Poi dal momento in cui è morto Stefano Cucchi, nel 2009, la famiglia dopo un paio di

giorni ha contattato la nostra associazione, perchè avevano preso lo stesso avvocato di Federico

Aldrovandi , quindi da li è iniziato un lavoro piu preciso su queste questioni. Noi non ci occupiamo

solo delle morti in carcere ma ci occupiamo in realtà anche dei fermi avvenuti per strada, in

custodia cautelare . Quindi il nostro lavoro a parte di documentazione e scrittura, sui giornali e i

libri che facciamo. Noi facciamo una sorta di accompagnamento istituzionale per le famiglie ,

cerchiamo di seguire tutti i processi , siamo a contatto con avvocati e inoltre organizziamo incontri

con parlamentari, capi di polizia etc.. e adesso che Luigi è direttore dei diritti umani del senato , il

lavoro si è intensificato, è anche uno strumento usato per incontrare i parlamentari. I suicidi e le

morti violente, ci sono altri situazioni di abbandono o non curanza dei detenuti

Intervistatore: quindi cosa pensi che ci sia dietro tutti questi omicidi e suicidi? Perchè la

magistratura non riesce a trovare nessuno colpevole,

Intervistato: purtroppo è una cosa è sempre successa, infatti nel nostro libro , partiamo dalla storia

di Pinelle, anarchico morto cadendo dal balcone della questura di Milano. La nostra storia

repubblicatana è costellata da queste vicende . È non facile trovare un unica causa, da una parte c'è

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sicuramente, la polizia ( quando parlo di polizia, parlo di tutte le forze dell ordine) quindi cè sia lo

spirito di corpo che spesso quando gli implicati sono carabinieri per esempio loro vengono

investigati dagli stessi carabinieri e colleghi, quindi se metti un appartenze al corpo indagare su un

altra appartenenza al corpo , la cosa può prendere una piega non onesta , inoltre i carabinieri

svolgono dei lavorri giudiziari con gli stessi Pm , quindi ti ritrovi ad indagare su poliziotti o

carabinieri , di cui fino al giorno prima ci hai lavorato, quindi questo è un elemento che può creare

problemi nel momento in cui un magistrato deve investigare sui carabinieri, e poi spesso cre una

disparita, queste famiglie oltre ad affrontare il lutto di un proprio caro devono anche affrontare

delle spese ingenti per il processo che sono molto costoso, non solo il pagamento dell avvocato ,

ma anch i costi sulle perizie, e psicologicamente affrontare dei processi del genere dove la

sensazione è quella che il processo venga fatto alla vittima e alla famiglia , quindi è molto faticoso

imporsi in aula e cercare di scoprire la verità. A volte ci riesce , a volte è difficile, ora con l uscita

degli smartphone , nuova teconlogia è piu facile avere delle evidenze, filmati , e video che

mostrano gli accaduti, insomma un qualcosa in piu. La costruzione della prova è molto

emblematico, esempio la storia di Federico Aldrovandi , in cui i responsabili condannati in

defenitiva sono 4 poliziotti ed p stato aperto un processo chiamato '' Aldrovandi Bis'' che appunto

ha indagato e condannato altri poliziotti della questura di Ferrara per aver come dire '' ripulito'' le

prove nell' imediatezza . È molto complicato nel nostro paese, e ottenere delle risposte.

Qui in Italia c'è lo spirito di corpo che ci fa si che ci si chiuda a riccio nella protezione dei

responsabili . In inghilterra, la tendenza è quella che gli stessi polizzioti sono i primi a voler

denunciare per cercare di distinguersi dai polizzioti che commettono abusi, quindi non sono degni

di fare questo lavoro.

Intervistatore: Si credo che il sistema di giustizia inglese è completamente diverso

Intervistato: si , il sistema corporativo

Intervistatore: cavolo , mi hai dato delle risposte importanti per questa tesi, ma cambiando un po

il discorso ti faccio un altra domanda, Sai che nel 2013 l' Italia è stata multata di 100.000 euro dall

Corte Europea a Strasburgo per le condizioni di vita inumane dei detenuti, cosa ne pensi di questo

fatto? Pensi che dal 2013 ad oggi qualcosa sia migliorato nelle carceri ?

Intervistato: allora la sentenza Torreggiani è la senteza pilota , alla corte europea sono arrivati dei

ricorsi per quanto riguarda il sovrafollamento, quindi questo ''signor Torreggiani'' ha scritto di

essere stato per piu mesi costretto a vivere in cercere avendo meno di tre metri quadrati a

disposizione in cella e contando i mobili etc. credo ce lo spazio era al di sotto dei tre metri, e la

corte ha deciso di unire questo ricorso a quello di altri sei detenuti e ha deciso di immetere la

sentenza pilota, che si mette tramite un articolo che lo prevede, per cui si rende conto che la cosa

che sta trattando riguarda una problema strutturale , quindi questo problema riguarda migliaia di

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persone , detenuti nel nostro paese, la sentenza arriva a gennaio, il governo fa appello e la sentenza

definitiva che conferma questa sentenza ae il pagamento della multa il 28 maggio, mi pare una

cosa dl genere. L ' Italia aveva un anno di tempo per adeguarsi .quind il governo ha approvato un

piano carceri, costruire nuovi carceri e quindi piu posti letto e da altra parte ha introdotto delle

misure legislative , come la legge svuota carceri , dove enivano aumentati il limite di anni di pena

del divo dove si poteva chiedere i domiciliare, quindi si è cercato di fare delle misure legislative

che hanno lo scopo di da una parte far entrare meno persone in carcere e dall altra parte aiutare per

esempio persone tipo'' tossicomani'' che invece di essere mandati in carcere , vengano mandati

nelle comunità teurapetiche. E credo che ora i numeri sono un po scesi, mi pare che al 31 di

dicembre c erano 54 mila detenuti, contro 68 mila di un anno fa. La corte Europea è soddifsfata di

queste misure . Ma comuque la situazione è lontana dall essere risolta.

Un problema non risolto è il fatto che in italia non si usano metodi alternative per i detenuti, come

gli uffici dell amministrazione penintenziaria , che in inghilterra è la probation, non viene

utilizzata. Quindi in italia ce ancora un tasso di recittiva molto alto dove le persone quando escono

dal carcere sono piu propense a ri commetere un crimine. Dovrebbero potenziare i metodi

alternativi al cercere.

Intervistatore: quindi pensi che il carcere sia di livello retributivo o deterrente?

Intervistato: l impianto sta diventato piu a scopo punitivo, non ce corrispondenza con il tempo

della pena e le attivita che vengono organizzate, cè un tempo quasi completamente vuoto, ci sono

delle eccezzioni, ce un istituo a milano, sperimentale, anch se è aperto dal 2000. Questo è un

carcere all aperto. Non ci sono i soldi per fare niente. Per ogni detenuto ci sono 15 minuti di

psicologo all anno, per esempio.

Intervistatore: quindi pensi che i diritti, human rights, vengano rispettati dalle autorità pubbliche?

Intervistato: non è tanto una questione di autorità , secondo me, certo è che il modo in cui è

organizzato il carcere , diciamo che è creato in modo tale da creare violenza , per esempio le

persone che ci lavorano sono quasi recluse, tutti i giorni la, e quindi tutto questo non aiuta. Poi

quando si parla di violenze, ci sono poliziotti che menano e quelli che non lo fanno. La maggior

parte di quelli che non menano, non andrebbero mai a denunciare il proprio collega . Però quella è

appartiene alla responsabilita indiviudale di ognuno . Invece la cosa su cui bisognerebbe

intervenire

è su singole abusi di violenza . Se pensi comunque che in italia la maggior parte dei carceri è

composta da poveri, stranieri e tossicomani. Questo ti fa cosa sia diventato il carcere . È un rifiuto

del welfare, quindi persone che in realta avrebbero bisogno di aiuto , cura e di una rete attorno di

supporto, invece vengono mandati in carcere . Tutto questo non fa che aumentare l ingiustizia , l

istituzione quindi è colpevole di non cercare di non invertire questa rotta.

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Intervistatore: Bene Valentina! Credo di avere abbastanza informazioni e hai risposto

perfettamente a tutte le mie domande. Ti ringrazio tanto! Buona giornata

Appendix F

Evidence Giuseppe Uva's body

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Documentary Nei secoli Fedele. https://vimeo.com/48948250

Appendix G

Photos of prisons living conditions.

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Appendix H

Reflective Report

The previous dissertation is done around social issues, unknown death in prisons and custody,

overcrowding in prisons and suicide, specifically focusing on Italy. The research question is

‘Unknown death in Italian Prisons: abuse or power? The Reality of the Italian Criminal Justice

System’. I believe that this topic is well-linked to the previous studies developed in the course,

especially to the topic studied this year, which particular modules focused on punishments,

prisons, penology and roles of public authorities. Through the use of criminological theories, facts

around crime and social issues, it is possible to analyse this in order to have a better understanding

of certain types of criminal and anti social behavior. During this research I have developed

important academic skills which are relevant for my future career. Firstly, I have developed

knowledge of how to conduct primary research, with reference to the qualitative method. The

research project was planned and completed in a year. I have developed project management skills.

However, I believe that I definitely need to improve this skill, because I did not create a clear

project schedule, which is required for outstanding time management. I also learned how to think

critically, analysing different perspectives on certain topics. This can be useful to deal with the

everyday life with reference to a future job where people have different opinions. Moreover, after I

had done the presentation of my dissertation in front of other people, I became more confident with

myself. The methodology of my dissertation is something I would have liked to change, but

unfortunately there was not enough time. In addition, I found it difficult to rely on some

participants, due to their personal problems, which resulted in one of them withdrawing. Also,

another problem was the transcription of the various interviews. Indeed, all the participants were

Italian, so I needed to translate at least one interview from Italian to English and again there was

not enough time. From this piece of work, I believe that this research has the base to start a new

research with reference to particular topic related to Italian Prison. Indeed, different social issues

were highlighted by the participant and one of the issues might be around mental illness developed

by certain inmates. I definitely reconsidered the role of the Italian Government and politics around

abuse, power and public authorities, which seems to be not fully responsible for the various social

issues around inmates and prisons. Indeed, the ignorance, incapability, lack of skills were relevant

in public institutions. Overall, this thesis will be reconsidered and further research on this topic is

planned. At this time, this dissertation will be fully translated into Italian and published online.

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