BELGIAN OFFICIALS HAVE A PROGRAM WHICH IS MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN ITS ITALIAN COUNTERPART; AN EXAMPLE IS THE POLICY OF HOLDING WEEKLY PRISON STAFF MEETINGS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES. MOREOVER, PRISON PERSONNEL ARE MORE SPECIALIZED IN BELGIUM THAN IN ITALY. EACH FACILITY HAS A SOCIAL ASSISTANT, A PSYCHOLOGIST, AND AT LEAST ONE DEPUTY DIRECTOR. IN THE VISIT TO THE MARNEFFE AND NIVELLES PRISONS, THE ITALIAN OBSERVERS SAW THAT PRISONERS USUALLY DO THE SAME TYPE OF WORK THEY DID BEFORE INCARCERATION. THE STATE TAKES OUT 40 PERCENT OF INMATES' WAGES TO REPAY THE COST OF INCARCERATION; THE REMAINING 60 PERCENT IS GIVEN TO EACH INMATE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE. SECURITY GUARDS ARE CIVILIANS UNCONNECTED TO EITHER THE POLICE OR THE ARMY; BELGIAN PRISONS COMPRISE BOTH MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES WHERE PRISONERS MUST ACCEPT THREE CONDITIONS: (1) THEY MUST WORK, (2) THEY MUST ADAPT TO COMMUNAL LIFE, AND (3) THEY MUST ACCEPT AND OBEY ALL PRISON RULES. IT IS NOTED THAT JUDGES HAND DOWN SENTENCES MORE SWIFTLY IN BELGIUM THAN IN ITALY. IT IS CONCLUDED FROM THIS VISIT THAT REHABILITATION OF PRISONERS IS A REALIZABLE GOAL. --IN ITALIAN. (INL)