Justice from the middle ages to the 19th Century 
The 19th Century:
the development of the prison system
Notorious criminals of the 20th Century |
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Home >the 20th Century >20th Century reforms |
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20th Century reforms
At the end of the nineteenth century, the prison system was still a long way from implementing the improvements in conditions that had been debated for so long. A review carried out at the beginning of the twentieth century showed that the cell system had still not been introduced due to a chronic lack of funding, which had made it impossible to carry out building programmes for new, up-to-date prisons.
The use of iron shackles for prisoners in labour camps, still provided for by the rules laid down by Royal Decree 4328 of 7 March 1878, had been abolished by the Zanardelli Penal Code of 1889, but it was found that “twelve years after the introduction of the new Penal Code, a misinterpretation of the Temporary Provisions carried over into the Prison Regulations meant that prisoners condemned to hard labour under the previous Code still wore chains on their ankles.” Shackles were only abolished for good in 1902, through the Royal Decree of 2 August: “In penal institutions, even those not regulated according to the system of the penal code, the use of chains prescribed by the disciplinary rules laid down by Royal Decree 4328 (second series) of 7 March 1878, shall be abolished.”
The next Royal Decree 484 of 14 November 1903 introduced a number of changes in the rigid system of penalties, with the abolition of straitjackets, shackles and dark cells, although the decision was based more on the failure of these forms of punishment as a real deterrent against undisciplined conduct than on any real desire to improve the terrible living conditions of the prison population.
On 31 December 1901, in the prisons there were a total of 26,085 beds in dormitories, but only 4,952 single cells. The situation was much the same in penal institutions, with 5,019 single cells against 23,943 beds in dormitories. One consequence of this state of affairs was that convicts and prisoners awaiting trial lived together, while only 7% of inmates carried out some form of work in the prisons of the Kingdom of Italy.
Regulations
of 1907
Royal Decree 150 of 24 March 1907 introduces new Regulations for the Prison Guards Corps.
1922: Transfer of Prison Administration from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Justice
Through Royal Decree 1718 of 31 December 1922, the Department of Prisons and Reformatories is transferred, as of 15 January 1923, from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs. The duties previously assigned to the Ministry of the Interior, the prefect and the deputy prefect are now taken over by the Ministry of Justice, the Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal, and the King’s Prosecutor respectively.
1928: Establishment of
the Board for Institutions of Prevention and
Punishment
Through Royal Decree 828 of 5 April 1928, the Department of Prisons and Reformatories becomes known as the Board for Institutions of Prevention and Punishment.
1937: Regulations for Prison Guards
The Regulations introduced on 30 December 1937 (2584) remain in force until 1990, albeit with a number of modifications to bring the provisions into line with the advent of democracy, and later with the prison reform of 1975.
The Regulations of 1937 assign prison guards the task of maintaining order and discipline in penal institutions.
1975: The Prison Reform
Law 354 of 26 July 1975 introduces new provisions regarding the prison system and the implementation of measures of detention and restricted freedom.
1990: The Reform
of the Prison Guards Corps
Law 395 of 15 December 1990 establishes the Prison
Police Corps and the Department
of Prison Administration.
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