The alarm that isn’t there about the bosses on their outing

It is not uncommon – not only for those involved in reporting on the justice system and prisons, but for anyone who cares about the rule of law – to have to thank a newspaper such as Il Dubbio for its thorough fact-checking work. The ‘case’ examined in depth yesterday by Damiano Aliprandi is one such example, and it is worth highlighting because it also reveals something about an alarmist approach to news reporting and its political exploitation. Il Dubbio analyses the ‘alarm’ raised following an article in the daily newspaper La Stampa – which was immediately exploited for political ends – concerning the alleged ease with which mafia bosses can leave prison. The headline read: “Mafiosi, life-sentence prisoners and clan leaders are leaving prison on leave”.

But Il Dubbio writes: “Then you read the names, and the revolving door grinds to a halt. In 2026, three people were granted leave: Gregorio Di Giovanni on 6 March, Cristoforo Cannella on 10 April and Mario Capizzi”. These were “temporary releases, lasting just a few days, ordered by a judge through reasoned and revocable rulings. What exactly is the scandal here? Unless the rule of law and the autonomy and independence of supervisory judges are deemed scandalous.” As for many other prisoners mentioned, the article explains that their requests for leave were refused. And that, in any case, those detained under Article 41 bis are not entitled to such leave. However, the article in La Stampa prompted several PD MPs, including Walter Verini, group leader on the Anti-Mafia Committee, to call on Minister Nordio to report urgently to Parliament. The ‘alarm’ had also been raised by the Public Prosecutor of Palermo, Maurizio De Lucia, who reiterated the ‘dangers of prison privileges’ for Mafia bosses. Except that these dangers are not real. The non-profit organisation Yairaiha, which has been following the case, writes: “The full details come later. First comes the alarm.” But Il Dubbio is right to point out that the habit of attacking the government over alleged and non-existent “easy releases” is bipartisan: during the Covid years, it was the right that tried this tactic.