Abstract

This study examines the informal norms governing inmate behavior in Italian prisons and the interplay between formal and informal systems. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with “experts according to Article 80 of Italy’s Penitentiary Law,” key prison stakeholders responsible for evaluating inmate behavior and developing rehabilitation programs. The findings reveal that inmates establish internal social hierarchies, governed by informal norms (inmate code) that dictate behaviors such as respecting hierarchies and adhering to the code of silence. Violating these norms leads to informal sanctions, ranging from social exclusion to violence. This code emerges from both the importation of external subcultural norms and the inmate’s adaptation to the prison environment, serving as both a survival strategy and a response to alienation. The study also highlights the complex and often conflictual interplay between formal and informal norms, with inmates typically prioritizing informal rules. This dynamic often hampers social reintegration. Therefore, the study advocates for a balanced and flexible approach to prison management that bridges the gap between formal and informal norms, alongside targeted rehabilitation programs and practical reintegration opportunities, to align inmate behavior with societal values and support successful reentry into lawful society.

Keywords

Italian prisons, social control, prisonization