Violence and abuse at the IPM Beccaria in Milan | | Movimento Globale per i Diritti dell’Infanzia

The allegations of torture, mistreatment, abuse of power, and even sexual violence against juvenile detainees in the Beccaria Juvenile Penal Institute are disconcerting and bring to light a serious problem in our justice system that, for those willing to listen to youth, has been evident for some time.

Pending verification of responsibility in this case, we can say with certainty that many boys and girls throughout Italy have testified that they have been subjected to acts of violence and abuse by law enforcement officers sometimes during arrest or detention.

Based on these testimonies, these episodes can no longer be considered anomalies, isolated cases, or exceptions. Unfortunately, the voices and stories of the boys and girls we listened to tell us that violence in the justice proceedings is a structural and recurring element of the system.

The brutality suffered by the children undermines trust in the justice system, irreparably damages the well-being and dignity of the youth involved, undermines the educational and rehabilitative function of criminal proceedings provided by our national and international legislation, and seriously violates the principles and norms that should qualify and guide our juvenile justice system.

Certainly, violence and abuse against juvenile detainees reflect and are a consequence of a complex set of structural problems within the justice system. These are “chronic” problems of the system related to lack of space, poor conditions, and lack of opportunities exacerbated today by hasty legislation such as the recent Caivano Decree. Our system increasingly distances itself and forgets the intelligence and pedagogical foresight found in the 1988 Presidential Decree 448 a legislation still taken as an example worldwide.

Certainly, more training is needed for all professionals but especially for prison police officers and law enforcement officers who often come into contact with young people during the arrest and detention phases. There is also an urgent need for external and transparent monitoring that constantly verifies and determines adequate levels of welfare, guarantee and protection.

It is crucial that the investigation into the Beccaria IPM in Milan becomes another catalyst for systemic change in the way juvenile justice is addressed and managed in Italy. Only a collective and ongoing commitment will be able to ensure that the rights and dignity of juveniles are fully respected and protected at every stage of the criminal justice process. In fact, it is the same rights and dignity that can become an engine to support real processes of rehabilitation and social reintegration.

As part of the “JUST CLOSER” project, we met with many juveniles involved in criminal proceedings throughout Italy, listened to them, and offered them a safe space to express their concerns, better understand their situation, and recognize their rights. The results of this consultation can be found in the Report “Justice on a Juvenile Scale: the voices of boys and girls in Italy.” Additionally, as part of the same international initiative, a series of podcasts uplifting the live voices of boys and girls who directly recount their experiences in the criminal proceedings they have experienced is published.

Together with the Teatro dell’Ortica in Genoa, we have created a play inspired by the stories of girls and boys who have encountered the juvenile justice system in Italy.

It is precisely the stories and testimonies of the boys and girls, along with our ability to listen to them, that can help us understand the gravity of what is being reported to us today about the sad and brutal events in Milan.