Rome, 8–12 June – A delegation of 15 high-level senior prison officers from Mexico, representing the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC - Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection), the Órgano Administrativo Desconcentrado de Prevención y Reinserción Social (OADPRS - Administrative Body for Prevention and Social Reintegration), and the Mexico City Penitentiary System, participated in a specialized training week held at the Scuola di Esecuzione Penale “Piersanti Mattarella” (Piersanti Mattarella Prison Administration Training School) in Rome.
The activity was carried out within the framework of the Programme Strengthening the Penitentiary System and Social Crime Prevention Policies in Mexico, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and implemented by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in close partnership with the Italian Ministry of Justice.
The programme aims to enhance institutional capacities to prevent and counter organized crime within prison systems, reinforce coordination between federal and state authorities in Mexico, and promote more effective prison administration and rehabilitation practices.
This training week underscored the value of trilateral cooperation between Italy, UNICRI and Mexico, providing a platform to exchange expertise, share good practices, and strengthen responses to organized crime in prison settings.
The opening session was attended by high-level representatives of MAECI’s Directorate-General for Development Cooperation, the Italian Department of Prison Administration of the Ministry of Justice, and the Embassy of Mexico in Rome, reaffirming Italy’s role as a key partner in the programme and in penitentiary cooperation with Mexico.
Training activities were delivered by highly specialized experts and trainers from the Italian Department of Prison Administration, focusing on advanced prison management practices, internal security and approaches to managing detainees linked to organized crime.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in substantive discussions and exchanges on operational and institutional strategies to address the presence of organized crime groups in custodial settings, including risk management, security measures and inter-agency coordination.
In addition, the delegation was hosted at MAECI for high-level institutional exchanges with representatives of the Italian Government. A separate meeting was held with the Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Justice, further reinforcing the strategic dialogue and cooperation underpinning the trilateral partnership.
The programme also included study visits to two major penitentiary institutions in Rome: Regina Coeli Prison and the Rebibbia New Complex, providing participants with first-hand insight into operational procedures, security arrangements and rehabilitation approaches within the Italian correctional system.
UNICRI expresses its appreciation to MAECI, the Italian Ministry of Justice, and the Government of Mexico for their collaboration, and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in support of secure, effective and accountable prison systems capable of preventing and countering the challenges posed by organized crime, while promoting rehabilitation and the rule of law.
Cover photo: @Barbara Cardini
