Italian Prisoners’ Sentences Reduced for Every Book They Read in Jail
Say what? Yes, you read it right. Apparently, Italian prisoners will get their sentences reduced by three days for every book they read while in jail. But, don’t get too excited about this new scheme, as it comes with several requirements.
For instance, every book has to be more than 400 pages. Unsurprisingly enough, comic books and picture books don’t count (sorry, Marvel, Tintin and Archie fans). And lastly, these Italian prisoners can earn a limit of 48 days off a year for reading books.
This idea was brought on by Mario Caligiuri, a cultural chief on the regional council. According to Caligiuri, this scheme will apply only in Calabrian prisons as of this moment. If the government approves it, it will be introduced on a national scale.
In addition, this policy is open to all inmates serving six months or more.
Various policies have been implemented to meet the increasing number of Italian prisoners. The population exceeds 80,000 and there are spaces only for 60,000 of them.
Is This Worth a Shot?
Here’s my two cents: how will they determine when an inmate has (in truth) finished reading the book? Do the officers monitor them? Do they hold a pop quiz or invite the inmates to share their thoughts on the book after finished reading it? Are they required to write a book review? More importantly, what sort of genres will these Italian prisoners be reading?
I’m guessing they’ll dabble in the classics like John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. It’ll be pretty cool if Caliguiri had announced the titles; I bet bookworms are interested to know about this.
Questions aside, I look forward to this brand new policy. Just like what a Daily Mail reader has said, literature can save.
Fellow readers, what do you think of this new policy? Yay or nay? Share your thoughts, we’d love to hear from you!