Abstract

The Italian penitentiary system is based on a rehabilitative model, which is connected with social policies and entrusts relevant tasks to the professional social work. Through a bibliographic review, this article highlights some historical passages, focusing on the role of social workers in the relationship between social and penal policies. In the changes of social policies, marked in Europe by the influence of neo-liberalism and globalization, social workers are in contact with growing numbers of prisoners and groups of social exclusion inside the prison, such as that of foreigners without a residence permit. In this scenario social workers and are called to reflect on their professional role.