(ANS – Rome) – In the wake of its educational commitment to minors and the most vulnerable young people, ‘Salesians for Social’ has strongly joined the appeal launched by Libera, Antigone, and Defence for Children to address the crisis of the juvenile justice system in Italy.

The appeal – signed by more than 80 organizations – denounces the progressive erosion of the educational culture in the management of juvenile deviance, asking institutions for a reversal of direction that puts protection, listening, and personalized accompaniment of youngsters in difficulty back at the center.

‘Salesians for Social’, with 45 day care centers, 33 family homes, residential communities, and educational projects throughout Italy, works every day to offer concrete alternatives to school drop-out, educational poverty, and the early criminalization of minors. As also highlighted in the Program Document 2025-2028 “Organizing Hope”, the Network recognizes justice as an educational process, and is committed to building territorial alliances capable of generating paths of meaning and dignity for every boy and girl.

Below is the statement by the National President, Fr. Francesco Preite:

“We adhere to this appeal because we cannot remain silent in the face of a system that risks losing its educational function. Prison cannot be the only horizon for young people who make mistakes. Juvenile justice must go back to being what the Constitution and common sense ask of us: an opportunity to start again. We are a network created to be on the side of the most fragile young people, not to judge them, but to accompany them. For this, we need resources, vision, and a profound cultural change. Don Bosco, visiting the Turin prisons in the mid-1800s and realizing the conditions that induced minors to reoffend frequently, thought that if those youngsters had a friend outside to take care of them, the number of those returning to prison could be reduced. Even today in Italy, we need to invest more educational energy and resources not only in improving living and working conditions in prisons, but also in preventive work outside and in the educational function of juvenile justice. Educational culture is not a luxury: it is a civil and political duty. We owe it to every boy who is still waiting for someone to tell him: ‘I believe you. You can do it’“.