Italy’s Justice Ministry has announced plans that could see the release of up to 10,000 inmates, around 15% of the country’s prison population, as part of efforts to ease chronic overcrowding in detention facilities.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, the ministry said approximately 10,105 prisoners are “potentially eligible” for non-custodial alternatives, such as house arrest or probation. This would apply only to inmates whose convictions are final, who have less than two years left on their sentence, and who have maintained good behaviour without serious disciplinary issues in the last 12 months.

Inmates convicted of grave offences — such as terrorism, organised crime, rape, migrant trafficking, and kidnapping — will not be eligible for the scheme.

According to the World Prison Brief database, Italy has one of the highest levels of prison overcrowding in Europe, with an occupancy rate of about 122%. This places it behind only Cyprus, France, and Turkey in terms of overpopulation. A rate above 100% signals that prisons are housing more people than they were built to accommodate.

The issue has come under greater scrutiny in recent months following a spike in inmate suicides and mounting concerns over the extreme summer heat inside prisons, many of which lack air conditioning.

While the move could offer relief to the country’s strained prison system, early releases remain a politically sensitive issue in Italy. Aware of public and political concerns, the ministry has made clear that the releases will not be immediate.

A taskforce has been established to coordinate with prison officials and parole judges. It is expected to meet weekly and will present a report on its progress by September.

Meliss Enoch

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