The pressure on ltaly's 257 jails has been increasing rapidly. These jails are old and overcrowded. They are supposed to hold up to 43,000 people-9,000 fewer than now. San Vittore in Milan, which has 1,800 inmates, is designed for 800. The number of foreigners inside jails has also been increasing. The minister in charge of prisons fears that tensions may snap, and so has recommended to the government an amnesty policy.

Which one of the following, if true, would have influenced the recommendation of the minister?