Draft:Bollate Prison

The Bollate Prison (II Casa di Reclusione di Milano) has been functioning since late 2000 and it is considered a facility dedicated to rehabilitation. Its aim is to implement a program of lighter security that promotes the gradual reinsertion of prisoners into society. It has place for a total of 1267 inmates, but as in 2024, a total of 1427 prisoners were registered.
The prison is located in the city of Bollate, approximately 15 kilometers north of the city center of Milan, Italy.

Bollate Prison

Location	Via Cristina Belgioioso, 120, 20157 Milano MI
Coordinates	45° 31' 23.437" N 9° 6' 5.738" E
Status	Operational
Population	1,476 (166 are women)
Opened	2000
Managed by	Italian Ministry of Justice
Warden	Giorgio Leggieri

Programs

As previously mentioned, the main objective of the prison is rehabilitation and reinsertion of the detainees in the community following Cesare Beccaria's ideals.

Bollate Prison is considered an "Open Prison" and it is among the few such institutions globally where inmates’ cells remain open during the day, allowing inmates greater independence and responsibility. This is possible thanks to the employ of electronic badges that permit the prisoners to move freely within the facility, enabling the access to their work or educational programs. Additionally, there are certain groups of inmates whose supervision is not continuous, as they have established a trust-based relationship with the prison administration: these groups are not always under constant watch, and prison guards do not always maintain fixed posts. This approach is referred to as "dynamic supervision".

The majority of detenees engage in productive and efficient activities, either through employment or education. They are offered opportunities to pursue secondary education, learn English, or work on their computer skills. Vocational training is also available, including courses in carpentry, electrical work, cooking, and welding. Inmates have the opportunity to join various agricultural and service cooperatives, both within and outside the prison. Furthermore, Bollate runs a garden and cares for horses, which are both employed for therapeutic purposes.
Formal agreements have been established to facilitate the university education of inmates, in collaboration with the University of Milan-Bicocca, the University of Milan (Statale), and Cattolica. A staff member oversees the administrative processes related to inmate enrollment, providing assistance with course materials and exam texts, as well as coordinating the scheduling and administration of exams.

A considerable number of inmates are allowed to work outside the prison, in accordance with Article 21 of the Italian Penitentiary System. On average, approximately 200 inmates participate in external employment. This opportunity is made possible through partnerships with various companies, formal agreements, and work grants offered by the local municipality or region. These are managed by CELAV (Centro di Mediazione al Lavoro) and the AEI Cooperative, along with various individual projects aimed at social reintegration. Furthermore, the institute also partners with the Seconda Chance project.

The impact of Bollate Prison's progressive approach to incarceration is reflected in its low recidivism rate: ranked among the lowest in Italy. A 2014 study revealed that just 20 percent of those released from the prison are reconvicted within five years, a stark contrast to the national average of 70 percent.

Structure

The prison consists of two distinct zones: the first is accessible to external visitors who can participate in certain activities, while the second is predominantly occupied by inmates and prison staff. One of the first buildings you see upon entering is InGalera, a restaurant recognized in Michelin and Gambero Rosso guides. Since 2015, inmates have been working there as waiters under the guidance of professional chef and a maître. There is also a theater that hosts workshops and performances, and since 2017, a nursery that welcomes not only the children of employees and local families but also those of female inmates.

The remainder of the facility is divided into eight wards, essentially four-story buildings. Each ward has various social rooms and dedicated areas equipped with ovens for cooking. There are spaces for religious practices, gyms, and concrete yards where inmates can play tennis, soccer, or volleyball, which serve as areas for recreation. The fourth ward hosts a library with several study rooms. The spaces also facilitate various cultural activities: for example, every Friday at 4 PM, editorial meetings take place for the newspaper written by inmates, called Carte Bollate.

Notable inmates

• Massimo Bossetti, a former carpenter sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for the murder of Yara Gambirasio.
  
• Giacomo Bozzoli, He was arrested after a period of being a fugitive for the premeditated murder of his uncle, Mario Bozzoli.
• Sabrina Masseri,
• Renato Vallanzasca
• Guglielmo Gatti
• Alberto Stasi
• Salvatore Parolisi
• Antonio Logli
• Michele Buoninconti

External links

• https://www.carcerebollate.com/

See Also

• Ministry of Justice, Italy
• The Court of Justice of the European union
• World Prison Brief
• European Court of Human Rights
• Habeas Corpus
• Italian Judiciary
• Italian Red Cross