San Vittore ICAM

San Vittore ICAM (Istituto a Custodia Attenuata per Madri detenute) is the first open detention facility for mothers with children established in Italy. Located in the city centre of Milan, in the northern part of the country, the ICAM operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice and is managed by the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP), in coordination with local social services and regional healthcare authorities. Although institutionally linked to the San Vittore prison, with which it shares staff and management, the ICAM is situated in a separate building and functions according to a distinct set of principles tailored to the presence of children.

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SMALL-SCALE

The San Vittore ICAM can accommodate up to nine residents. They live in a large apartment that was formerly used as public administration offices. The space is set up along a long hallway with four bedrooms, each bright, spacious, and comfortably furnished, with room for two to three beds for mothers and their children.

SMALL-scale

The San Vittore ICAM can accommodate up to nine residents. They live in a large apartment that was formerly used as public administration offices. The space is set up along a long hallway with four bedrooms, each bright, spacious, and comfortably furnished, with room for two to three beds for mothers and their children.

San Vittore ICAM is a:

Open detention facility

for:

9 PEOPLE,
Women

Indicated principles:

Differentiated, Small-scale

San Vittore ICAM is a:

Open detention facility

for:

9 PEOPLE,
Women

Indicated principles:

Differentiated, Small-scale

San Vittore ICAM is a:

Open detention facility

for:

9 PEOPLE,
Women

Indicated principles:

Differentiated, Small-scale

DIFFERENTIATION

The ICAM is intended for pregnant women or mothers with young children, specifically, those with children under the age of six during the pre-trial phase and under the age of ten during the execution of a sentence. When there are no overriding reasons to hold a woman in a standard prison, judges may order that pre-trial detention or sentence execution take place in an ICAM.

Every week, there is a meeting between operators and detained women to discuss issues, raise concerns, and gather proposals for new activities. The recreational activities offered include courses in music, theater, dance, and film forums. The children can benefit from pet therapy programs. The educational offer mainly includes literacy courses and middle school education, undertaken after an initial evaluation test.

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATION

The ICAM model was established to provide a less punitive environment than traditional prisons, with particular attention to supporting the mother-child relationship in a setting designed to be more domestic and nurturing. While children are regularly accompanied outside the facility, for example, to attend nursery school, opportunities for mothers to engage in community-based activities remain limited. In some cases, judicial authorities may grant temporary leave for special events, such as school performances. Additionally, nursery school staff periodically visit the facility to meet with the mothers. Although direct contact between mothers and the wider community is relatively restricted, the ICAM continues to prioritise internal programming and external partnerships aimed at supporting both maternal responsibilities and child development within a stable and supportive setting.

Differentiation

The ICAM is intended for pregnant women or mothers with young children, specifically, those with children under the age of six during the pre-trial phase and under the age of ten during the execution of a sentence. When there are no overriding reasons to hold a woman in a standard prison, judges may order that pre-trial detention or sentence execution take place in an ICAM.

Every week, there is a meeting between operators and detained women to discuss issues, raise concerns, and gather proposals for new activities. The recreational activities offered include courses in music, theater, dance, and film forums. The children can benefit from pet therapy programs. The educational offer mainly includes literacy courses and middle school education, undertaken after an initial evaluation test.

Community-integration

The ICAM model was established to provide a less punitive environment than traditional prisons, with particular attention to supporting the mother-child relationship in a setting designed to be more domestic and nurturing. While children are regularly accompanied outside the facility, for example, to attend nursery school, opportunities for mothers to engage in community-based activities remain limited. In some cases, judicial authorities may grant temporary leave for special events, such as school performances. Additionally, nursery school staff periodically visit the facility to meet with the mothers. Although direct contact between mothers and the wider community is relatively restricted, the ICAM continues to prioritise internal programming and external partnerships aimed at supporting both maternal responsibilities and child development within a stable and supportive setting.

Ministry of Justice

San Vittore ICAM

Report San Vittore ICAM

English report

Visited by Antigone (February 2024)

RESCALED

Ministry of Justice

San Vittore ICAM

Report San Vittore ICAM

Report

Visit

Visited by Antigone (February 2024)

WISH-EU

Ministry of Justice

San Vittore ICAM

Report San Vittore ICAM

Report

Visited by Antigone (February 2024)

RESCALED