Tragic Suicide in Turin Prison Highlights Crisis in Italian Detention System
Turin, May 19, 2025 – A 32-year-old detainee, identified only as M.A., took his own life in a cell at Turin’s Le Vallette prison on Sunday, hours before a scheduled court hearing, prison officials confirmed. The man, detained on charges of attempted robbery, was found hanged with a bedsheet in his single-occupancy cell during a routine check at 3 a.m., underscoring ongoing concerns about Italy’s prison conditions and mental health support for inmates.
M.A., an Italian citizen with no prior criminal record, was arrested last week for attempting to rob a convenience store. According to sources, he was placed in the prison’s new arrivals section, a known high-risk area for suicides due to its isolating conditions. The Turin Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into possible incitement to suicide, a standard procedure, and ordered an autopsy to determine the circumstances of his death. No note was found, and prison staff reported no prior indications of distress, though M.A. had not yet undergone a psychological evaluation.
This marks the fifth suicide in Le Vallette prison this year and the 82nd in Italian prisons, surpassing the 77 recorded in 2022, the highest since 2009. Bruno Mellano, Piedmont’s Guarantor of Prisoners, described the incident as a “devastating failure” of the system, noting that overcrowding—1,450 inmates in a facility designed for 1,000—and staff shortages exacerbate risks. “The first days of detention are critical, yet we lack the resources to monitor or support vulnerable inmates,” Mellano said.
The tragedy echoes prior cases in Turin, including the 2022 suicide of 28-year-old Tecca Gambe, a Gambian man detained for attempting to steal headphones, and a 56-year-old Italian inmate accused of stalking, both of whom died by hanging in Le Vallette. Civil society groups, including the Antigone association, have renewed calls for reform, citing Italy’s 2013 condemnation by the Strasbourg Court for “degrading treatment” in prisons due to overcrowding and poor conditions.
Mayor Stefano Lo Russo expressed grief, stating, “Every life lost in state custody demands urgent reflection on our penitentiary system.” He urged investment in better facilities and mental health resources to prevent further tragedies. Meanwhile, the Sappe prison police union highlighted staffing deficits, noting that only five educators were assigned to Turin despite a national hiring of 210.
The incident has reignited debate over Italy’s pre-removal detention centers (CPRs), like Turin’s, where a 2021 suicide of a Guinean migrant prompted a “Black Book” report by activists alleging systemic abuses, including overuse of psychotropic drugs and unofficial isolation cells. While M.A.’s case occurred in the main prison, advocates argue that both facilities reflect broader issues of neglect and inadequate oversight.
As investigations proceed, pressure mounts for systemic changes to address Italy’s prison suicide crisis, with critics arguing that without immediate action, such tragedies will persist.
Sources: ANSA, Teller Report, Frontiers, UCL INEQ-CITIES Project