“Prison is not a separate world, not something other than ourselves, but part of our society.”

With these words, Paola Severino spoke on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Italian Prison System Act, underscoring the need for a constant exchange between life inside correctional facilities and the broader civic community outside. Her message was a strong reminder of the constitutional meaning of punishment and its rehabilitative purpose—one that still needs to be fully realised today.

Prison must be a place of transformation, not exclusion. This can only happen if the outside world—universities, businesses, and institutions—is ready to welcome and support genuine paths of change.

A special thank you goes to the students of Luiss Guido Carli, key participants in the Legality and Merit project, who bring their commitment and the values of the Severino Foundation into prisons every day. Through listening, study, and meaningful relationships, their presence stands as a living example of a form of justice that does not merely punish, but supports reintegration and builds bridges between worlds that should never be kept apart.