Educating to care: university beyond bars

SUPSI Article Header

The latest issue of Iride, the journal of the Department of Business, Health and Social Economics, entitled ‘Trame di cura’ (Patterns of Care), features an article by Professor Francesca Pallotti exploring the role of university education as a tool for identity transformation and well-being for prisoners.In this article, we publish a summary overview of the key points covered by the author.

‘Care’ in prisons cannot be limited to simple psychological or health support. In a broader sense, it means taking responsibility for the person as a whole: recognising their dignity, listening to their needs and valuing their potential. From this perspective, academic education becomes an authentic act of care that opens up paths to profound transformation.

The impact of social networks

The research project ‘Education and Social Networks in Prison and Beyond Prison’ introduced Social Network Analysis (SNA) into prison contexts for the first time in Italy. The aim is to understand how studying changes prisoners' relationships and self-perception.

The results emerging from the early stages of the research highlight significant data:

  • Emotional support: Those who study have broader and less restrictive social networks than those who do not attend university courses.
  • Mental well-being: Student prisoners show lower levels of anxiety and stress, reporting greater overall satisfaction with life.
  • Physical health: There is a direct correlation between the breadth of perceived relationships and better physical health and self-esteem.
  • Change of identity: University allows inmates to transition from the stigmatising label of “prisoner” to the positive label of “student”.

Numbers and scenarios: international comparison

The global landscape of university education in prisons is varied:

  • Italy: University enrolment has doubled since 2018, involving over 1,800 students in 120 institutions.
  • United States: Programmes such as Second Chance Pell have enabled 45,000 prisoners to study, generating economic savings for society by reducing recidivism.
  • Switzerland: Education remains focused on basic training; there is still a lack of structured university programmes for prisoners, despite the Penal Code promoting their reintegration.

A challenge for the community

Despite the proven benefits, obstacles remain in terms of limited resources and language barriers. Overcoming the prejudice that higher education is a “luxury” for those who have committed a crime is essential.

Investing in university behind bars means choosing a model of justice that is not limited to punishment, but that cares for the community by rehabilitating its most vulnerable members. As the research reminds us, a democracy is also measured by its ability to include those who live on the margins.

Further reading

Hidden Widget