Vol. 79 No. 2 (2024)
Research Articles

Agricultural work in European prisons. An exploratory analysis

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  • Maria Andreoli,
  • Francesca Frieri,
  • Giorgia Giordani,
  • Francesca Giarè
Maria Andreoli
University of Basilicata, School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (SAFE), Potenza
Francesca Frieri
University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS), Department of Science, Technology and Society, Pavia
Giorgia Giordani
University of Tuscia, Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), Viterbo
Francesca Giarè
CREA – Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, Rome
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-15329

Published 2024-10-15

Keywords

  • Social farming,
  • Prison farms,
  • European prisons,
  • Agricultural work in prisons

How to Cite

Andreoli, M., Frieri, F., Giordani, G., & Giarè, F. (2024). Agricultural work in European prisons. An exploratory analysis. Italian Review of Agricultural Economics (REA), 79(2), 75–91. https://doi.org/10.36253/rea-15329

Copyright (c) 2024 Maria Andreoli, Francesca Frieri, Giorgia Giordani, Francesca Giarè

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Work in prisons has taken on various meanings over time. In European contexts, it serves as a valuable tool for enhancing inmates’ quality of life. Specifically, agricultural work is recognised for its benefits, such as physical and psychological rehabilitation, vocational training, job placement, education, and recreational activities. Some of these aspects align with Social Farming (SF), which attributes a socio-welfare role to agricultural practices. To identify any SF elements within European prisons, an exploratory analysis was carried out, examining experiences in four countries (Denmark, Greece, Italy, and Sweden) using a qualitative approach. The findings reveal that many aspects of these experiences align with the SF framework and contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners engaged in agricultural work.

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