CHAPTER 6: THE ITALIAN CASE STUDY
4. T HE RESEARCH STUDY
4.1 Methodology
The study involved new research which drew on quantitative data drawn from questionnaires devised specifically for the project and sent across the whole of Italy (endorsed by the Ministry of Justice) and qualitative data taken from drawings and work undertaken with children visiting their parents at the Spazio Giallo.14 This was in order to give a more complete picture of the situation in Italy with respect to children and imprisoned parents. This approach differed from that of the other countries in the study and some of the drawings and analysis are therefore included within this report as illustrations of their function in interpreting their meaning. For this reason, an additional Annex has also been included in this report, containing a detailed case study of one child’s drawings and a subsequent analysis by the social worker who supported him15. In addition, Bambini has drawn on more than 10 years of its direct experience in this area, to give greater insight into the data collected.
4.2 Data collection
Permanent Watch is a section of Bambini which collects information on all case studies from the organisation’s work in prison in recent years. This database contains records of case studies, reports of individual support sessions, rulings, decrees and interviews in Italian with imprisoned parents and children during the various stages of the criminal justice process: arrest, remand detention, execution of sentence, parole and release.
The aim of this experimental archive is to record experiences and collect documentation on the application of new laws on alternative measures to custody and the judiciary’s rulings/focus on issues related to children of imprisoned parents; and to
14 The social-educational children’s facility which Bambini run daily at San Vittore Prison and Bollate Prison in Milan
15 See annex 6.
foster interagency partnerships and collaboration on behalf of this group of children.
The following selection of imprisoned parents was taken from this database, drawing on Bambini case studies:
Records of the Bambini Permanent Watch:
• 200 imprisoned mothers met/referred, 80 of whom are Bambini case studies
• 500 imprisoned fathers met/referred, 200 of whom are Bambini case studies In addition to the information from the Permanent Watch database, stakeholder interviews were carried out with prison officers and social services staff.
The focus of Bambini’s practice and research was on children. Although Bambini is in daily direct contact with children of prisoners, ethical considerations required finding a medium for them to express their feelings and talk about their experiences without asking them direct questions. Drawing, an extraordinary tool for children to express themselves in ways that words often cannot, was the selected medium. At Bambini’s Spazio Giallo, children waiting to see their imprisoned parent are prepared for the visit, and encouraged to engage in drawing.
As mentioned above, a detailed case study of one child’s drawings and subsequent analysis for the purposes of the research is documented in annex 6. Below are some examples of how the children express powerful emotions by drawing vibrant, dynamic and sometimes disturbing images. This is frequently the kind of drawing which children, particularly boys, execute the first time they come to visit their imprisoned parent, sometimes just a few days after the arrest.
A giant flying dragon, by Leo, age 5
A shark threatening a jellyfish, by Paoletta, age 5
A big fish threatening a small goldfish, by Akram, age 5
An erupting volcano, by Miki, age 5 2009-2010 Pilot study groups
• A total of 20 fathers imprisoned at Bollate Prison completed questionnaires.
• A group of 18 imprisoned mothers worked during the entire year on analysis in Bambini’s ‘mediation for creating relational objects’ workshops, which provide the opportunity for mothers to create objects-messages for their children and to exchange experience. The crafts become symbolic of the mother-child bond and help ease the pain of being separated from their children.
2010 Nationwide prison study
The questionnaires were sent to 213 prisons throughout Italy. Given Bambini’s activities in the region, Lombardy was chosen as the focus for detailed analysis, with the aim of developing a pilot network consisting of best practice at a regional level.16 The research process involved close collaboration and cooperation with the national Ministry of Justice, national prison officials, regional prisons administration and prison staff (education staff, social workers and prison officers), which is described in detail in Annex 3 – the Italian Awareness-raising and Advocacy plan. The main stakeholders in the study were:
1. prison management representatives 2. prison social services (probation staff) 3. children’s social services
4. prison officer representatives 5. state police and carabinieri 4.3 Questionnaire
In order to gather data concerning the number of children with imprisoned parents in Italy, we devised questionnaires featuring both open and closed questions. Drafted by the DIHR, the questionnaires were translated into Italian and the questions were adapted to the situation in Italy, factoring in the Italian prison rules and the relationships between prisoners and their families and children in Italy. The Directorate of the Lombardy Penitentiary Management was involved in this process to ensure that questions were as accurate and relevant as possible.
The questionnaire, which was sent with the request that in every prison someone would be responsible for distributing and collecting it, contained 44 questions, exploring the following topics:
• the application of standard practice with respect to the prisoner’s parental status
• the physical conditions of the visits for children who enter prison to meet their parents
• the tasks and behaviour of staff (police officers and education staff) with respect to visits
• restrictions and permits
• the different forms of contact and maintenance of the relationship, in person and from a distance
• specific initiatives concerning the family
• collaboration between the prison and other local agencies with respect to the needs of prisoners and their children
• training needs.
It was sent to different staff groups working in the prison (education staff, prison officers, management). Not all prison staff members have direct contact with children but, for all who took part, the questionnaire served as an awareness-raising tool, focussing attention on the issue, for the first time for some prison staff members:
16 cf paragraph 6.1.2, In-depth research in Lombardy
The questionnaires seem very useful in that they will allow us in future to monitor improvements in parent-child relationships during and after imprisonment. (Education professional, Bari Prison, Puglia)
The questionnaires have to have impact and foster new work relationships, not only new knowledge. (Education professional, Isili Prison, Sardinia)
Very useful if the results of a careful evaluation of data gathered lead to concrete applications in reality, featuring binding innovations for every establishment and each profession with respect to specific professional skills. (Education professional, Bari Prison, Puglia)
Responses were received from every region in Italy with return rates varying, possibly due to the level of awareness within each prison to the needs of children of prisoners and the importance they attach to the issue. Of the 213 prisons, 112 responded, sending back 441 questionnaires. The following tables show the breakdown by region and profession.
4.3.1 Response breakdown
Table 1: Completed questionnaires per region
In terms of geographic area, the national response rate was, on average, 53 per cent, a very positive result considering the degree of resistance commonly found among prison officers with respect to this type of investigation. The highest response rate was in the northeast, including Lombardy (67 per cent).
Table 2: Response rate according to staff category
*commander will be changed into top grade prison officer
As can be seen from Table 2, the highest percentage of respondents was education/social workers.
In the following tables, responses are divided into four categories of staff but, in some cases, according to two categories: the education staff and prison officers (by equating the latter in the three sub-categories of prison officers).
4.3.2 Recording data
Although prison procedures provide an opportunity to inquire about parental status of prisoners, the research shows that in 18 per cent of the cases that question would not be asked; while 82 per cent said it is asked. In data published by the Ministry of Justice, the number of children of prisoners is indicated but with a note on the margin of error, evidently due to the 18 per cent ‘not applicable’, but also possibly attributable to ‘no response’ from the parent, who often hesitates to give this information because of widespread fear and mistrust vis-à-vis social services involvement.
Table 3: Response to prisoners with children
0%
20%
40%
60%
Educator Liaison officer Registration officer Commander 75%
32%
18%
44%
23%
28% 31%
27%
1%
40%
51%
29%
What do you do if you learn that an inmate has one or more children that may require help or support from the social authorities?
We contact the relevant authorities
We encourage inmates to contact the relevant authorities We do not get involved
According to Table 3, 75 per cent of education staff contact the authorities compared with just 32 per cent of prison officers, 44 per cent of senior grade prison staff (Governor) and just 18 per cent of registration officers (on the prisoner’s arrival).
Registration officers, in particular (51 per cent), consider this outside of their jurisdiction; 23 per cent of education staff, 27 per cent of Governors, 28 per cent of liaison officers and 31 per cent of registration officers advise imprisoned parents to seek assistance from authorities themselves.
Whilst most staff felt the prison system had a level of responsibility to manage the impact of imprisonment on children and families, only about a third in all categories thought it was their personal responsibility to provide assistance to families.
4.3.3 Contact between prisoners and their children
Respondents were asked if they recorded whether or not prisoners receive visits from their children, with 93 per cent stating they did so. In response, most took some kind of follow-up action: 52 per cent of the staff members try to find out more about the situation; the remaining 41 per cent report it to the responsible unit or another staff member such as their supervisor, education or welfare staff or a psychologist. The research did not, however, identify what then occurs once the information is passed on.
4.3.4 Security measures
Intrusive searching of children when entering the prison is a procedure that is one of the most unpleasant, intrusive and possibly traumatising experiences for the child.
From the research findings, 40 per cent of the staff stated they always conduct a search; 29 per cent use metal detectors; 20 per cent do a ‘pat-down’ search if considered necessary; 11 per cent also monitor when babies nappies are changed.
4.3.5 Visits
Family visits depend a great deal on when visiting times are scheduled; in the case of children of school age, it is important to make visits in the afternoon, after school hours (even into the evening) and on weekends. The survey reveals that 81 per cent of the prison visits are in the morning, 11 per cent in the afternoon and 8 per cent throughout the day.
Visits are granted between six and eight times per month in 73 per cent of prisons.
Visits normally last one to two hours but there is in most cases the possibility of obtaining an extended visit with the child. The possibility of sharing a meal with the children is also granted in certain situations. And there are circumstances (such as solitary confinement) which prevent contact with children (except Art. 4Ibis of the Prison Rules for crimes of Mafia).
Table 4: child-friendly visiting areas
Whilst only a third of prisons reported have facilities designed specifically for children’s visits, most provide some facilities for young children, such as toys, tables and chairs, and decorated walls. However, only 26 per cent provided anything specific for children over 6 years old.
4.3.6 Phone calls and correspondence
Other forms of important contact between prisoners and their children, such as phone calls and correspondence, are limited. Imprisoned parents are only allowed to call their children once a week in 93 per cent of the cases. Phone calls are allowed for duration of up to ten minutes and the time of the day is variable by prison; 39 per cent can call anytime throughout the day; 32 per cent from 6pm to 9pm; 23 per cent from 1pm to 6pm; and 6 per cent can call between 9am and 3p.m. It is possible to make a call to a mobile phone, but only 49 per cent of prisons are aware that this possibility is granted to the imprisoned parent. Imprisoned parents cannot receive calls in 84 per cent of cases.
Correspondence is another way to maintain contact, but difficult for parents who cannot afford to buy materials to write or mail a letter if it is not provided by the prison. In 47 per cent of the prisons, this material is always provided, but in 30 per cent of the prisons, only in certain situations; 23 per cent do not provide any. Email correspondence was not permitted.
4.4 In-depth regional research
An important element in the Italian prison research was a decision to choose Lombardy as the pilot region for more in-depth analysis. This was selected because:
• It is the region where Bambini has been active over the past ten years.
• It is representative of the national context in that all different types of prison (all-male, all-female, district, confinement, for others with children, psychiatric) are found here.
• The region has the maximum relative density of prisons (nine).
• It is the region where the issue of family and parental bonds in prison first became a focal issue.
• The region has developed an approach to prison which recognises human rights and children’s rights (see paragraph 6.1.2, In-depth research in Lombardy).
Researchers visited each prison in Lombardy and rated the facilities available for children. The following gives an overview of available facilities and arrangements in the different prisons across the region.
4.5. Visits
4.5.1 Special child-friendly rooms
The vast majority of prisons in Lombardy have specially designated rooms for children, for either actual visits with imprisoned parents, or where children can wait prior to visits.
These vary considerably in terms of quality and range, however, and include:
• basic rooms for visits (Brescia Verziano, Cremona, Lecco, Mantova, Monza)
• child-friendly spaces that have been colourfully painted and are equipped with toys, books and activities for children (Bergamo, Busto Arsizio, Brescia Canton Monbello, Pavia, Vigevano)
• more elaborate child-friendly visits facilities with age-specific areas (San Vittore) and sophisticated waiting rooms with NGO-run therapeutic services like the Spazio Giallo (San Vittore, Bollate); one prison, Bollate, also has a large child-friendly recreational visits room, and a ‘resettlement room’ – a small one-room ‘flat’ where the child can spend time engaging in everyday activities with the imprisoned parent for the day and no prison staff are present
• in some prisons, prisoners have made furniture, murals and provided other decorative features for visits rooms
• outdoor areas for visits between children and imprisoned parents (Bollate, Cremona, Monza, San Vittore). Bollate has a gazebo and tables and there are plans to involve staff from the horse-riding school to bring in horses for the children. There is also a service for the diffusion of music. Some prisons plan to make outdoor facilities more child-friendly, with a gazebo, tables and benches, toys, flowerpots and a fountain to make it more recreational (Cremona)
• some prisons have special parent-child schemes for overseeing visits (Busto Arsizio). Others provide theatre performances and other forms of entertainment for children (Brescia Canton Monbello, Brescia Verziano, Bollate). Como Prison's special scheme Ridere per Vivere (Laugh and Live) features clowns and performers to help reduce stress as children enter the prison
• Milan Opera and Varese Prisons have plans to develop child-friendly visits areas, whereas Brescia Verziano plans to construct a special entrance and a waiting room. The child-friendly rooms at Pavia were not being used at the time of the study, due to a lack of staff and concerns over security. Meetings between imprisoned parents and children take place in the magistrate’s room at Sondrio Prison.
4.5.2 Extended visits
Extended visits on special occasions such as Father’s Day, school holidays and Christmas play a key role in supporting family ties by providing opportunities for quality visits. In some prisons, prisoners contribute to the festivities, for example, by baking cakes. Many prisons say they are unable to organise special events due to lack of space. Those where they are available include Bollate, San Vittore, Brescia Verziano, Busto Arsizio, Como and Sondrio Prisons:
• At Bollate, in addition to longer visiting times (until 6pm, including Saturdays), special extended visits are organised, featuring entertainment for children.
• At San Vittore, prison staff do not wear uniforms during the special extended visits (for example, on Mother’s Day, Christmas, etc.); special visits outside are held two Sundays per month here, and the number of Saturday visits (no school for children that day) has been increased.
• At Busto Arsizio, extended visits for Father’s Day and other special events are organised at Busto Arsizio, which plans to recruit facilitators to be present at the prison every month.
• Brescia Verziano holds regular extended visits, many featuring theatre performances for children.
• Como Prison plans to launch special family day visits for holidays, Father’s and Mother’s Days and other key dates.
4.5.3 Training for prison staff
Prison staff are frequently not aware how small changes in their behaviour and attitude can impact on children. However, several prisons in Lombardy provide training for prison staff to raise awareness and introduce the child’s perspective:
• Bergamo (a prison for juveniles), Vigevano and Mantova prisons run awareness-raising schemes for staff who come into contact with children and families, highlighting the importance of changing their behaviour in the presence of children.
• Mantova also places emphasis on making security procedures more child-friendly.
• Como includes awareness-raising programmes for prison officers as part of its Ridere per Vivere (Laugh and Live) scheme.
The national study also highlighted the issue of staff training:
Table 5: Specially trained prison staff
Most prisons do not have specialist staff trained to work on visits between prisoners and their children (76 per cent). On average, 78 per cent of the staff reported that they did not feel suitably trained to deal with prisoners’ children. The responses highlight the need for training, yet also reveal the need to disseminate information more widely, given that the Ministry of Justice released guidelines in December 2009 on how to behave appropriately in front of the children and the family, and drew prison officers’
attention to the importance of facilitating of parent-child relationships.17Yet, only 34 per cent of respondents knew that guidelines existed for staff members on how to interact with children during visits.
4.5.4 Support schemes for imprisoned parents and families
There is a variety of support/education programmes for imprisoned parents and their families offered in the Lombardy prisons, including:
• crafts workshops for imprisoned parents (for example, Lecco Prison, where parents make objects that children use during visits);
• parenting support schemes, such as Mamme Dentro (Mothers Inside) at the mother-baby unit at Como Prison; Genitori Dentro (Parents in Prison), focusing on parenting support and conflict resolution, and support groups for imprisoned fathers run by Bambinisenzasbarre, both at Bollate; and the Spazio Giallo Bollate and San Vittore;
• at Milan Opera, a support project for families with children who are experiencing behavioural difficulties due to a parent’s absence has been
• at Milan Opera, a support project for families with children who are experiencing behavioural difficulties due to a parent’s absence has been