Cultural and religious pluralism require the development of a “models of coexistence” that combine the rules of reception with the rules of belonging, favoring mutual recognition in respect of diversity and fundamental rights in everyday life.
This theme concerns also the penitentiary system because of the number of foreign inmates coming from different nationalities (33% of the total number of detainees that are in Italian prisons, year 2019). Foreign inmates are bearers of cultures, values, beliefs, practices, that are not always known or recognized by the detention context.

Diversity Management represents a model that combine security needs with educational needs, helping both professionals and institutions to develop the ability to cope with diversity. Diversity Management also helps to modify individual behaviors and to develop institutional and organizational culture.
The role of institutional actors, which are close to inmates, is relevant: they oversee security tasks but also functions of integration, growth, setting and recognition of people in detention.

The detention institution is called on changing into an environment that promotes:
• the understanding of problems encountered by professionals while working;
• the creation of learning processes through which individuals may produce knowledge and behaviors, that help to improve work practices and transform work contexts.