In the course of the visit, the CPT’s delegation assessed the treatment and the conditions of detention in which persons were held in four prison establishments and it also examined the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty by law enforcement agencies. In addition, the delegation examined treatment of patients in psychiatric wards of four civil hospitals (Servizi psichiatrici di diagnosi e cura or SPDCs) and of non-autonomous elderly persons accommodated in two nursing homes (Residenze sanitarie assistenziali or RSAs) .

In the course of the visit, the CPT’s delegation held an exchange of views with Marta Cartabia, Minister of Justice as well as with Benedetto della Vedova, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Pierpaolo Sileri, State Secretary of Health. Further, it also met with Carlo Renoldi, Head of the Prison Administration and Sergio Bracco, Prefect and Head of the Public Security Department in the Ministry of the Interior and other senior officials from relevant Ministries and law enforcement agencies. In addition, the delegation met Letizia Moratti, Vice-President and Minister of Welfare of the Region of Lombardy.

Meetings were also held with Mauro Palma, Head of the national authority for the rights of persons deprived of their liberty (Garante nazionale dei diritti delle persone detenute o private della libertà personale) as well as with representatives of the civil society active in areas of concern to the CPT.

At the end of the visit, the delegation presented its preliminary observations to the authorities of Italy.

The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT:

• Alan Mitchell, President of the CPT (Head of delegation)
• Helena Papa
• Kristina Pardalos
• Philippe Mary
• Vincent Delbos
• Marius Caruana

They were supported by Hugh Chetwynd (Head of Division) and Christian Loda of the CPT’s Secretariat and assisted by two experts:

• Catherine Paulet, psychiatrist, Head of the Regional Medico-Psychological Service at Baumettes Prison, Marseille (France)
• Olivera Vulić, psychiatrist, former Chief of the Centre for Mental Health in Podgorica, (Montenegro)

The delegation visited the following places of deprivation of liberty:

Law enforcement establishments: 

• Milan State Police Headquarters (Questura, Via Fatebenefratelli)
• Milan Carabinieri Porta Monforte Station (Comando di Compagnia, Viale Umbria)
• Milan Municipal Police Bureau for Arrests and Apprehensions (Ufficio Arresti e Fermi, Via Custodi)
• Rome State Police Headquarters (Questura, Via di San Vitale)
• Rome State Police Lazio Railway Police Department
• Rome Carabinieri Centro Station (Comando di Compagnia, Via Giovanni Giolitti)
• Turin State Police San Paolo Station (Commissariato, Corso Racconigi)
• Turin Carabinieri Oltre Dora Station (Comando di Compagnia, Corso Vercelli)
• Turin Carabinieri Mirafiori Station (Via Guido Reni)

Prison establishments: 

• San Vittore Prison, Milan
• Monza Prison
• Lorusso e Cutugno Prison, Turin
• Regina Coeli Prison, Rome (targetted visit)

Psychiatric establishments:

• Niguarda Great Metropolitan Hospital (SPDC unit), Milan
• Cinisello Balsamo Hospital (SPDC unit)
• Melegnano Hospital (SPDC Unit)
• San Camillo Hospital (SPDC Unit), Rome

Social care establishments:

• Pio Albergo Trivulzio Nursing Home (RSA), Milan
• Palazzolo Nursing Home (RSA), Milan