Rome
A mass prisoner release across Italy last week has already begun to backfire. To relieve overcrowding, the government declared a general amnesty for any convict serving a term of less than three years, except those convicted of rape, terrorism, or Mafia-related crimes. Some 12,000 people were released. In less than a week, though, several dozen were rearrested. One man went straight from his cell to the home of his ex-wife, whom he tried to strangle. Others were caught committing a range of crimes, including stealing cars, vandalizing stores, and shoplifting. Opposition lawmakers were scathing in their criticism. One suggested that the first 700 prisoners rearrested should be put under house arrest—in the homes of the MPs who had voted for the amnesty.
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