Reintegrating through work: prison–community partnerships at Milan Bollate Prison

Promoting the social reintegration of prisoners aligns with the goals set out in the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 16, which emphasizes inclusive societies and effective institutions. Labour has long been considered a central component of correctional treatment in custodial settings. This paper draws on ethnographic research conducted at Bollate Prison (Milan, Italy), combining interviews and participant observation, to explore the dynamics and conditions that enable meaningful employment opportunities for people deprived of their liberty. The focus is on the strengths and weaknesses of prisoners’ employment by private entities. Such work can truly make a difference in effective treatment and reintegration after the end of the sentence. However, it still represents a minority: in Italy, where the overall number of employed prisoners is already low, 85% of prison jobs are managed directly by the prison administration. Within Bollate prison, located in a strategic position inside the active economic landscape of Milan, a relatively large number of inmates manage to find work with companies or private organizations both inside and outside the prison. The findings highlight the critical role played by collaborative networks involving external actors — such as the municipality of Milan, public employment centres, recruitment agencies, social cooperatives and private companies — in expanding work opportunities for prisoners. They underscore the importance of organizational flexibility to reach compromises between prison security requirements and the operational needs of businesses. Besides, this research reveals the necessity of strict supervision by prison staff and trade unions to guarantee fair working conditions. This overview offers an empirically grounded reflection on prison labour best practises and invites a broader discussion on the capacity of external partnerships to support more inclusive and dignified forms of correction.