Giovanni
Lawyer · Turin, Italy
- 286 cases handled
- 16+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, French
- Law, University of Turin
-
4.99(23 reviews)
Legal Help for Prisoners in Italy
This page is for foreign nationals held in an Italian prison and for their families abroad. It explains the difference between pre-trial custody and serving a sentence, how visits and contact work, the alternatives to prison and the transfer of a prisoner to their home country.
About Legal Help for Prisoners in Italy
Legal help for prisoners in Italy covers the needs of a person held in an Italian prison (carcere) and of the family trying to support them from abroad. People search for a relative in prison in Italy, a foreigner in an Italian prison, prisoner rights and prison visits; in Italian the person is a detenuto, and the judge who supervises the sentence is the magistrato di sorveglianza. This page is neutral, general information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Represent Incarcerated Person”.
Who needs this
Families who have learned of an arrest through the consulate or a phone call, a prisoner whose court-appointed lawyer does not speak English, and a person serving a sentence who wants to apply for an alternative measure or to be transferred home.
Two different situations
- Pre-trial custody (custodia cautelare), usually in a casa circondariale. The person has not been convicted. The judge handling the case decides on release, house arrest and visits, and the custody order can be challenged before a review court.
- Serving a sentence, in a casa di reclusione or the same facility. The supervisory judge and court (magistrato and tribunale di sorveglianza) decide on alternatives such as probation with social services (affidamento in prova), home detention (detenzione domiciliare), partial release (semilibertà) and reductions of the sentence for good conduct.
Contact and daily life
Visits (colloqui) and phone calls with family are allowed with authorisation; who grants it depends on the stage of the case. Relatives can send money and certain items under the prison's rules. Health problems are reported to the prison health service and, where needed, to the judge. Each region has a prisoners' ombudsman (Garante dei detenuti) who can be contacted about conditions.
Transfer and foreign nationals
A sentenced person may ask to serve the sentence in their home country under European rules or international conventions, if both states agree. For some non-EU nationals, expulsion can replace the last part of a sentence; it carries a ban on returning to Italy, so it needs careful consideration.
What an English-speaking lawyer does
The lawyer visits the prisoner, explains the case, keeps the family informed with the prisoner's consent, files appeals and requests for release or alternative measures, applies for visits and transfer, and liaises with the consulate. A relative can appoint and instruct the lawyer through a power of attorney where the prisoner agrees. A person held for surrender to another country is described under extradition proceedings. More on criminal law in Italy.
Questions and answers
How do I find out where my relative is held?
The consulate of the person's country is usually informed and can help; a lawyer appointed for the prisoner can obtain the information directly.
Can I visit from abroad?
Yes, once the visit is authorised and booked with the prison. Identity documents and proof of the relationship are requested.
Can the prisoner change lawyer?
Yes. A prisoner can appoint a lawyer of their choice at any time, replacing the court-appointed one.
Is a transfer home automatic?
No. It requires a request, the agreement of both countries and, usually, a final sentence.
2 lawyers who provide Legal Help for Prisoners in Italy
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
-
-
Alfredo
Lawyer · Naples, Italy
- 30 cases handled
- 5+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, Italian
- Masters Degree in Law, Università Federico II di Napoli
-
5.00(1 review)
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Legal Help for Prisoners
2 registered lawyers provide this service in Italy. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
- Assault Charges
- Defence against Domestic Violence Allegations
- Defamation
- Drink Driving Offences
- Drug Possession & Trafficking Offences
- Extradition Proceedings
- Fraud, Theft and Forgery
- Customs Seizure of Goods
- Sexual Offences
- Smuggling Offences
- Speeding and Traffic Fines
- Legal Representation for Crime Victims
What our clients say about our service in Italy
-
He was very professional and gave me good advice and information about my situation and what can be done about it, and his English was perfect, so there was no trouble understanding. I truly appreciated the advice not only on the legal level but on a human level too.
— Nicole04 Dec 2025 -
She gave me guidance on a complex problem.
— John10 Jul 2023Personal Tax Consultation, Italy -
My husband's case is complicated. At last we have found an excellent Avvocato, and this service came to our rescue; we are very satisfied.
— Jacqueline31 Jan 2023Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice, Italy -
The lawyer was a very professional man and the family are extremely grateful for his help with our matter. The fee was good value for money, and he was very clear about what we needed throughout our case, in perfect English.
— Antony21 Dec 2022 -
He responded quickly, understood my situation thoroughly and gave me the right solution, which I am very satisfied with.
— Rowena28 Sep 2022 -
The lawyer took the time to go through my options in detail and even suggested ones I did not know about. She is very knowledgeable in this field, and the help was excellent.
— Clinton20 Jul 2022Fiscal Advice, Italy -
The lawyer was always very thorough and came up with great solutions. She patiently went through everything and talked me through my options, which was a great help as I had just moved to a new country and did not speak Italian. The assistance was excellent.
— Kelly14 May 2022Tax Services for Freelancers & Self-Employed, Italy -
Overall I had a very satisfying experience. The lawyer was very helpful on the phone, on WhatsApp and, at the end, during a 3-hour meeting at the notary's office. He is very professional and did everything I could have wanted, and I am sure we received the best service possible.
— Bo07 Apr 2022 -
Fast to respond, quick to grasp my questions and helpful every time. The assistance was excellent.
— Axelle05 Oct 2021General Tax Services, Italy -
Even though the case dragged on for more than a year, I was always kept informed about the process and got an immediate answer to every question. I am very satisfied with the final result.
— Tomas05 Aug 2020 -
The lawyer is an excellent accountant, and starting a business in Italy became very easy with her. She guided us through the complexities of Italian company law and contacts us on her own initiative with suggestions, news of new government rules or support, and other advice we need. Her English is perfect, so we never struggle to understand. I highly recommend her services.
— Eugene02 Jun 2020Business Set-Up, Italy -
He was very responsive, always told us where the process stood and moved fast whenever he could. We were very satisfied and would definitely recommend him.
— Johanna17 Oct 2025