Italy Opens First ‘Sex Room’ for Prisoners Following Landmark Court Ruling

Italy has launched its first sex room for prisoners following a court ruling affirming inmates’ rights to private, unsupervised visits with partners. Located in Terni, the room includes a bed and toilet for two-hour visits. The initiative mirrors practices in other European countries and aims to support inmate well-being.

Italy has inaugurated its first official room for intimate visits in prison, marking a significant shift in the country's penal system following a Constitutional Court ruling affirming prisoners’ rights to private meetings with partners. The room, located in a facility in Terni, Umbria, was used for the first time on Friday by an inmate and his female partner, without supervision by prison staff.

The initiative stems from a January 2024 court decision that recognized inmates’ rights to maintain emotional and physical bonds with spouses or long-term partners, stating that these are fundamental human rights—even behind bars. The ruling aligns Italy with several European countries like France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden, where conjugal visits are already permitted.

The Italian justice ministry recently issued guidelines specifying the conditions under which such visits may occur. Each eligible inmate can access a private room equipped with a bed and a toilet for up to two hours. However, for safety reasons, the door must remain unlocked so that guards can intervene in emergencies.

Giuseppe Caforio, Umbria's ombudsman for prisoners' rights, praised the pilot visit, emphasizing the importance of privacy and respect for those involved. He noted that additional visits are expected in the coming days, potentially paving the way for broader implementation across Italy’s prison system.

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This development arrives at a time when Italy’s prisons are struggling with severe overcrowding and rising suicide rates. With over 62,000 inmates—more than 21% above official capacity—the initiative is being seen not only as a step forward for prisoner rights but also as a move to improve mental health and stability among inmates.