The Italian government has presented emergency plans to deal with the problem of overcrowding in prisons. Nearly 65,000 people are in jail in Italy, while the country's prisons can only officially accommodate just 44,000.

Justice Minister Angelino Alfano is introducing measures including the construction of new jails to raise capacity to 80,000. There are going to be jobs for 2000 new prison staff and some inmates will be allowed to serve out their terms under house arrest.

photo: old prison in Sardinia (Flickr / Dirk Hartung)