Italy has introduced its first 'sex room' in a prison, located in the central Umbria region.

The facility allows select prisoners to have private visits with their partners from outside.

This development follows a Constitutional Court ruling that acknowledges inmates' right to have intimate meetings with their spouses or long-term partners without being monitored by prison guards.

The court's decision, published in January 2024, highlights that conjugal visits are already permitted in many European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

According to guidelines issued by the justice ministry, inmates granted intimate meetings will have access to a room equipped with a bed and a toilet for up to two hours, with the door remaining unlocked to allow prison guards to intervene if necessary.

Italy's prisons are currently facing significant challenges, including overcrowding, with over 62,000 inmates, exceeding the official maximum capacity by more than 21%.

The country has also seen a recent increase in suicides within its prison system.