CRS2025-PID071-Elena Nanni, Emanuela Mari, and Clarissa Cricenti

Breaking the Silence: A New Model for the Psychological Well-being of Penitentiary Police Officers

Authors

Elena Nanni

Penitentiary Police Officer, Ministry of Justice - Department of Prison Administration, Italy

Elena Nanni is a member of Europris Expert Group on Staff Wellbeing in prisons. She graduated in law and political science and earned master’s degrees in Penitentiary Security System, Penitentiary Psychology and Public Administration.

During her professional job in the Prison Administration, she had the opportunity to lead several international missions, both at bilateral and multilateral level (f.i. Unodoc, Awareness Radicalization Network, Cepol, Twinning Programmes in Algeri and Morocco) regarding proselytism and radicalization in prison; developing rehabilitation and reintegration programs for violent extremist offenders in prison settings; anti-discrimination, diversity and other fundamental rights, as well as living conditions in prison, including professional isolation that affects staff.

In the last three years she played an important role in a team working on a Special Project for prison staff, aiming to promote physical, psychological and social wellbeing. The project, called “Progetto per favorire il benessere fisico, psicologico e sociale del personale”, assembles a broad range of procedures, methods, best practices, partnerships with universities, local health centers and psychologists. It involves the 11 Italian regional Superintendencies.

It considers that prisons are stressful and hazardous places to work due to a lot of factors (overcrowding, routines, bureaucracy, intercultural conflicts, drug abuse and so on) that affect staff mentally and physically. Prisons should care for both staff and prisoners health, also offering a fulfilling career for staff.

Dr Emanuela Mari

Psychologist and Research Fellow, Department of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Emanuela Mari, PhD, is a psychologist and research fellow affiliated with the Department of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on behavioral addictions, particularly gambling disorder, technological addictions, and emotional dysregulation. She earned her PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science at Sapienza University, presenting a thesis titled “Gambling Disorder: A Comparison of ‘Pure’ and Substance-Dependent Gamblers.” Dr. Mari is currently training as a psychotherapist at the Institute of Integrated Relational Therapy (ITRI) in Rome.

She has collaborated on numerous national and international research projects, including the Dostoevskij Project, aimed at raising awareness and preventing gambling addiction, and INdipendenza da Gioco, which focuses on evaluating and preventing behavioral addictions among youth. Her studies also examine the influence of emotions on gambling choices and the use of immersive virtual reality to understand risky behaviors, particularly among adolescents.

In addition, her experience extends to the penitentiary and emergency contexts, where she has worked on projects aimed at supporting penitentiary police officers and individuals in crisis situations.

An author of numerous scientific publications in international journals, Dr. Mari has primarily investigated the interaction between emotional regulation and behavioral addictions, as well as the impact of new technologies on young people.

Dr Clarissa Cricenti

Psychologist and Research Fellow, Department of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Clarissa Cricenti, PhD, is a psychologist and research fellow affiliated with the Department of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome. Her research focuses on emotional intelligence and psychological consequences of isolation conditions, particularly in the maritime context and “isolated, confined and extreme” environment (“ICE”). She earned her PhD in Psychology and Cognitive Science at Sapienza University, presenting a thesis titled “Cognitive performance in “Isolated, Confined and Extreme” (ICE) environments: the protective role of emotional intelligence during long-term isolation on board merchant ships.” Dr. Cricenti is an author of numerous scientific publications in international journals and her contributions extend to studies on adaptation and risk behaviors and psychological factors influencing cognitive functions in high-stress contexts. Dr. Cricenti is currently training as a psychotherapist at the Association for Research in Interpersonal Cognitive Psychology (ARPCI) in Rome.

In addition to her research on emotional intelligence and isolation, Dr. Cricenti has been involved in various initiatives aimed at understanding and addressing societal issues such as gambling addiction, road safety, and gender equality. Furthermore, her experience extends to the penitentiary and emergency contexts, where she has worked on projects aimed at supporting penitentiary police officers and on research-intervention projects with inmates.

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