The Perception of Emprisonment between Deprivation and Solidarity

The intent of this article is to investigate how changes within the Italian prison population have affected living conditions in prison. The article focuses on mechanisms of solidarity and the development of relations between prisoners. After a description of changes in the composition of the prison population, the remainder of the article is based on biographical interviews and ethnographic observation, focusing on the conditions of life in prison and relational aspects linked to the lack of material resources. Without doubt, the chronic overcrowding which characterizes the penal system in Italy, combined with a lack of stable financing and adequate resources, have seriously affected living conditions and the well-being of inmates. The aim of the article is to show which elements are seen as essential parts of imprisonment and control, and which are a result of the way in which the process is managed to attain those ends.