Work integration in prisons

This chapter focuses on the case of social cooperatives operating in Italian prisons to facilitate work integration and rehabilitation of inmates. Based on the mapping of all cooperatives operating in Italian jails and on the selection of 28 case studies, we propose a taxonomy of jail-based social cooperatives across their social and economic processes, emphasizing variations in task creativity and training methods. Four cooperative types emerge, from high creativity and on-the-job training to formal training in structured, routine tasks. Low creativity and on-the-job training models are most prevalent, focusing on practical skills acquisition through standardized tasks. In contrast, cooperatives that incorporate high creativity and formal training prioritize self-expression and long-term personal development. All of them need to undertake their activities in a challenging environment, where bureaucratic barriers and resistance by prison staff can seriously limit their effectiveness. Nevertheless, these cooperatives significantly impact prisoners’ identities, fostering a sense of agency and community, which supports lower recidivism. Our taxonomy stemming from the Italian case study contributes to the broader discourse on labour in prison, suggesting models that enhance rehabilitation and promote successful societal reintegration that may apply to other countries, both in the global north and south.