Dangerous to Society: The History of OPGs in Italy

At the end of the nineteenth century, the idea emerged in Italy to create structures called OPGs (Judicial Psychiatric Hospitals) to confine individuals who had committed crimes in a state of absolute insanity. The “criminal madman,” determined by biological or anthropological factors, represented a danger to society. These institutions were tasked with treating and reintegrating these individuals. In some cases, the reality, however, was that this would be a life sentence without a parole or trial.