Clash on the provision on inmate mothers

"We are re-presenting the bill on detainee mothers since the Democratic Party, by withdrawing the signatures from the provision, made it void. And we will be re-presenting a text that contains the proposed amendments that had been approved and which provide that there are no more excuses for pregnant women. They too, if they go back to crime, will end up in prison".

To say it is the leader of the League in the Justice Commission of the Chamber Jacopo Morrone.

- The parliamentarians of the Democratic Party withdraw their signatures from the bill in favor of detainee mothers and therefore the provision, having been presented by them in opposition, lapses.

"This was a text that had already been voted on by a branch of Parliament in the previous legislature. We had resubmitted it to improve the conditions of mother prisoners, but the majority transformed it by inserting rules that actually make things worse by even allowing pregnant women or with children under one year of age to go to prison. So it no longer makes sense, so we withdraw the signatures", explains the Dem Alessandro Zan.

- "Our request, supported by the entire centre-right, for a reform of article 146 of the penal code on the subject of pickpockets and pregnant thieves was accepted in the Justice Commission. Finally we are changing and pregnancy will not be an excuse: who commits crimes will be sanctioned, while respecting the rights of all, including the unborn child".

This was underlined by the Undersecretary of Justice Andrea Ostellari, commenting on the proposed law on prison mothers whose amendments were examined by the Justice Commission of the Chamber yesterday.

"Now, for the good of the country - adds Ostellari -, we are waiting for the text to be brought to the courtroom as planned. In this way, pregnant pickpockets will not go unpunished and, according to the judge's assessment, they will serve their sentence in a family home or in a special prison for mother prisoners".

Article 146 of the penal code provides for the deferment of the sentence for pregnant women, for mothers with a child under one year of age, for those suffering from AIDS or other serious illnesses.