Health “inside”: training and collegiality as tools for promoting health in prison

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Anna Zunino, Elena Zini, Liliana Chiarlone, Massimo Di Bisceglie
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/3
Language Italian Pages 13 P. 15-27 File size 136 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2026-003003
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The principle of humanity and the rehabilitative function of punishment, as set out in Article 27 of the Italian Constitution, are put into practice through the individualisation of prison treatment, which must respond to the personal needs of everyone, encourage their aptitudes and develop the skills that may support social reintegration. Law No. 354 of 1975, ‘Provisions on the prison system and the execution of measures depriving or restricting liberty’, moves away from a custodial prison model by introducing an approach centered on the prisoner and their path to social reintegration. This objective is pursued through collaboration between the various stakeholders involved in the prison system, including prison officers, specialist professionals and the wider community. Multidisciplinary work, collegial approach and training prison staff are key features of both operational practice and the prison climate, improving the effectiveness of interventions and the well-being of both prisoners and staff. Promoting health within the prison setting involves holding the organisation accountable for ensuring that appropriate conditions are in place to facilitate a health-promoting interaction between the individual and their environment. Possible measures include training prison staff to develop their interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team, and emphasising the importance of collaboration, with a view to integrating the various professional roles called upon by the prison service to contribute to the development of the treatment programme and, ultimately, to the rehabilitation of the prisoner. This contribution reflects on these aspects, highlighting the importance of organisational arrangements that serve as a means of promoting transformative action within a context that all too often causes suffering.

Keywords: prison, rehabilitation, training, collegiality, prison officers, health promotion.

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Anna Zunino, Elena Zini, Liliana Chiarlone, Massimo Di Bisceglie, La salute “dentro”: formazione e collegialità come strumenti di promozione della salute in carcere in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 3/2026, pp 15-27, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2026-003003