Trip to Volterra, Italy’ Prison System

In the Province of Pisa, Italy is where you will find a few hundred men serving their prison sentences of five or more years in the Medici Fortress from the 13th century, which now operates as a medium-security prison. As part of the weekly Friday excursions held for undergraduate students studying abroad in Prato with the University of New Haven, Dr. Danielle Cooper (TYJI Director of Research) participated in a facility tour with 20 criminal justice students and learned about the staff, programs, and history of the prison in Volterra, Italy.

The tour was many students’ first time being inside of any incarceration setting and provided valuable insights into the services and opportunities experienced by those incarcerated. One highlight of the tour was getting a chance to talk directly with Director Armando Punzo who leads their long running theater company, the Compagnia della Fortezza.

Following the trip, students in the Criminal Justice capstone class (CJST 4400) continued their studies on problems facing the criminal justice system in the United States, as well as globally. They integrated their interactive learning experiences into their final capstone projects and reflections on ways to produce solutions during their careers in criminal justice.