Call for Papers Welfare e Ergonomia 2/2024

In recent decades there has been a growing concern about the worsening conditions of liveability within Italian penitentiary institutions, due to several factors: the increase in the prison population, which currently stands at around 60 thousand units, and overcrowding, which is again becoming a systemic problem. A systemic problem that is characterized, among other things, by the dilapidation of penitentiary buildings; poor hygienic-sanitary conditions which some prison institutions experience; shortage of economic, professional and skills resources; the dramatic increase in self-harm suicide episodes; and the climate of violence against prison administration personnel and detainees. Conditions oft-reported by the National Guarantor of the rights of persons deprived of personal freedom, by the various associations for the protection of human rights and also ascertained by national and international courts, such as the ECHR. This feedbacks a reality which is very far from the constitutional model of criminal enforcement that, built on respect for human dignity, must aim at the rehabilitation of the convicted person (art. 27 Cost., III paragraph) for the purpose of reintegration into the community.
From the analysis of the normative and social evolution that has characterized the penitentiary system since 1975, as well as the growing demand for targeted and effectively inclusive social policies, it is evident that the «realization of the constitutional aspect of punishment» (ruling of the Constitutional Court n. 10,2024) is to date not only a challenge, but an urgent need of the democratic system and welfare, which should place the person at the center, especially if that person is in a condition of particular weakness and vulnerability.
In the face of all this, it seems increasingly urgent to launch a multidisciplinary reflection on the measures taken, and those that could be taken by welfare policies, aiming to help inmates acquire a different perception of themselves and themselves with others; offer them a realistic second chance of social rehabilitation; rebuild the trust between the jailed person and the community; devise ways to achieve effective employment opportunities in order to concretely guarantee equal social dignity.
A further consideration concerns the recognition of worker status. In fact, from an employment point of view, the data are not actually encouraging out of a prison population of about 60 thousand people, less than 20housands are in employment. These inmates have: intramural jobs in the domestic, industrial, artisan and agricultural fields; receive a pay which is about two thirds of non-prisoners’ remuneration, and, further, do not qualify for the guarantees established in national collective agreements. Some recent measures could change the status quo, such as the Cartabia Reform, D.Lgs. 150/2022 and the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Ministry of Justice and CNEL. Sociological and criminological studies have long highlighted the importance of investing in reintegration and social inclusion practices to reduce recidivism.
A third reflection refers to the persistent stigma that identifies the inmate, or ex, with the crime committed, which still appears to be an obstacle that prevents the effective social reintegration of persons currently or previously in jail.

This call is intended to collect multidisciplinary analyses and critical reflections, also in a comparative perspective, with regard to the European dimension, to gather elements of study for a possible reform. By way of example, papers may cover:
- social and health aspects arising from overcrowding, at both collective and individual levels;
- the importance of the care for affections in prison, to gather suggestions for reform;
- the mutual relationship between forms of restorative justice and social rehabilitation;
- the importance of education and training;
- the analysis of Italian or European best practice to promote training, integration and employment;
- the analysis of traditional welfare models and their implementation towards persons deprived of their liberty, with attention to new models or policies concerning inmates or former inmates;
- the analysis of legislation and case-law on the social and employment reintegration of inmates;
- critical analysis of the role of local and regional authorities, third sector and private organisations in ensuring training, integration and employment;
- the analysis of territorial best practice or best practice tested in prison institutions;
- the analysis of the factors leading to recidivism:
- the analysis of state and regional expenditure for the promotion of social and employment integration;
- the treatment of inmates who are about to be released, at the end of their sentence;
- the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, or neuroscience on the social and work reintegration of detained persons.

Theoretical contributions, both national and international empirical research, in Italian or in English are welcome.
Prospective authors of this issue of Welfare e Ergonomia are invited to submit, no later than the 29 March 2024, an abstract of about 3000 characters, and, if accepted, the full paper by the 23 September 2024 subdivided as follows:
− Theoretical contributions (subject to peer review) of no more than 25,000 characters (spaces included);
− Empirical research (subject to peer review) of no more than 25,000 characters (spaces included);
− Practical experiences (not subject to peer review) of no more than 15,000 characters (spaces included). 

Contributions in other languages are welcome

For evaluation purposes the abstract should be divided into:
- introduction to the subject under discussion;
- scientific framework within which to place the contribution, reconstruction of the national and international debate;
- the methodological approach adopted and the assumptions made;
- more important and innovative results;
- essential bibliographical references.

Please send abstracts to:
veronica.valenti@unipr.it
alberto.pesce@uniecampus.it
welfarergonomia.rel@irpps.cnr.it

After the notice of acceptance of proposals by the editor of the Journal, the authors must create an author account on the FrancoAngeli OJS platform:

https://ojs.francoangeli.it/_ojs/index.php/we/user/register

After registering, the authors can submit their paper by clicking on the link «New Submission» available in the User Home.
Should the article not be in line with the journal topics or standard, the author(s) will be informed.