On Feb. 20, 1850, Don Bosco wrote a letter to the administrators of the Mendacità Istruita almshouse. While referring to the youngsters who attended the Oratory around 1846, Don Bosco wrote, with evident exaggeration, “that there were between 600 to700 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 20, and most of them had been released from prison or were in danger of going to prison”.777 In 1854, however, and we know this from a manuscript unpublished for a long time, Don Bosco gave a talk which was more normally preventive in nature. It was more urgent and productive to educate “abandoned” young migrants to the city than to re-educate young men released from prison.
During this time, when I was visiting prison detainees, I noticed that the unfortunates who
ended up in that place of punishment were mostly poor youngsters who come from far
away towns into the city either because they needed to find employment or because they
were lured there by some mischievous individual. And these youngsters, especially on
weekends, left to themselves, spent the few cents earned during the week on games or
gluttonous pursuits. This is where vices come from and the youngsters who were once good
soon became enough 'at risk' and 'a risk' for others. Prisons do not offer these youngsters
any way to improve. As a matter of fact in jail they learn new ways to cause harm.
Therefore, by the time they are released, these youngsters have become worse. This is why
I directed my attention to this class of youngster since they were “abandoned” and “at risk”
more than others and during the week, either through promises or actual small gifts I tried
my best to win them over and to make them my pupils.778
We also have documented proof that Don Bosco was an effective member of the Royal Society for the
protection of youngsters released from the Generala pri son.
779This society had been championed very
strongly by Petitti of Roreto and by his friend Juvenal Vegezzi -Ruscalla.
Petitti had already written about a 'Patronage for released detainees', in an essay ' On proper administration of the Almshouse (Mendicità).780 Petitti had once again taken up the topic with increased
conviction in a more specific work On the current condition of the prisons. It would have turned out to be useless, as a matter of fact, to debate the corrective education of prison-detainees if no thought had been given to some private, voluntary institution aimed at facilitating their re-entry into society. As an example, Petitti quoted France, where, for some years institutions for prisoners had been created to provide “an education for young detainees”, as well as “Societies aimed at sponsoring detainees released from prison”.781
In Italy the situation regarding prisons lagged well behind.
Petitti had suggested several solutions: societies to sponsor people detained in prison, and released from prison; religious and charitable institutions destined to help the sponsoring societies; shelters for those released from prisons etc.782
The Royal Society for sponsoring young men released from prison had been authorized by Charles
Albert with a Royal Brief dated November 21, 1846 and had its statutes approved. Its members were
divided into three categories: 'Active members', who assumed the task of being Tutors; 'Paying
Members’, and 'Paying and active members'. Don Bosco is listed among the first 57 subscribers, among whom were outstanding personalities such as Caesar Alfieri, Caesar Balbo, Robert D'Azeglio, Gustav Camillo di Cavour, Charles Bon Compagni.
It took quite some time to collect the necessary funds and a reassuring number of participants. Writing
777Em I, 96.
778'Cenno storico...', in P. Braido (Ed.), Don Bosco nella Chiesa...., pp. 39-40.
779Cf. Chap. 5 § 6.
780C.I. Petitti di Roreto, Saggio sul buon governo..., Vol II, pp. 495-503.
781C.I. Petitti di Roreto, 'Della condizione attuale delle carceri'..., in Opere scelte, Vol I, pp. 382-391.
782C.I. Petitti di Roreto, 'Della condizione attuale delle carceri'..., in Opere scelte, Vol I, pp. 563-566, 582-584.