A Cuban inmate was involved in a tense situation on Friday at the Arginone prison in the Italian city of Ferrara after climbing onto the roof of the facility and threatening to jump.
The incident, which lasted more than three hours, was contained without fatal consequences thanks to the intervention of the prison warden and the actions of the prison officers.
The man, over 1.90 meters tall and weighing 120 kilos, who suffers from psychiatric issues, managed to push past the security personnel and access the upper floors of the prison, from where he climbed onto the roof, reported the local outlet Il Resto del Carlino.
He reported that once at the summit, the Cuban was shouting incoherent phrases like, “Leave me alone, I want to go home!” while blocking access to anyone trying to approach.
According to sources from the center, the inmate had already displayed violent behaviors in other correctional facilities, although he had never before reached such a critical situation.
The fear of a tragedy was real, but the prison commander managed to calm the man after a lengthy negotiation, gradually persuading him until he descended on his own.
The SAPPE union (Autonomous Union of Penitentiary Police), through its spokesperson Giovanni Durante, praised the professionalism of the prison officers but once again denounced the shortcomings of the Italian prison system in addressing the needs of individuals with mental health issues.
“Closing psychiatric penitentiary facilities was a grave mistake. In common prisons, there are no available specialists or appropriate treatment for these cases. This endangers both the detainees and the staff working inside,” declared Durante.
The union will formally request the transfer of the Cuban inmate to a specialized facility where he can receive appropriate treatment and medical attention.
The case reignites the debate on the urgent need to reform psychiatric care in Italian prisons, a demand recently supported by the Constitutional Court, which urged Parliament to legislate on the matter.
Currently, many prisons lack 24/7 psychiatric medical care, leaving inmates with severe disorders without continuous attention and exposing staff to high-risk situations.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Crisis in the Penitentiary and Psychiatric System in Cuba and Italy
A Cuban inmate climbed to the roof of the prison and threatened to jump off at the Arginone facility in Ferrara. The situation was brought under control after more than three hours of negotiation, with no fatal consequences.
The SAPPE union criticizes the lack of adequate psychiatric care in Italian prisons, argumentando que el cierre de estructuras psiquiátricas penitenciarias ha dejado sin especialistas ni tratamiento a reclusos con trastornos mentales, poniendo en riesgo tanto a los internos como al personal.
The situation in Cuba is alarming, as shown by the video of a patient assaulted in the psychiatric hospital of Santa Clara. The lack of medications and adequate care has led to episodes of violence and negligence in the treatment of mental illnesses.
Cuban prisons face serious problems of overcrowding, malnutrition, and lack of medical attention, which has resulted in numerous deaths from diseases such as tuberculosis. Human rights organizations are demanding urgent improvements to protect inmates.