What would you see it as?
What you said, with the rehabilitation of the criminal being (according to the Italian Constitution) the primary object and the protection of the community the secondary one. Whether Italy's overcrowded, underfunded prisons serve their official purpose is doubtful to me. For societal protection longterm use of anklets would be cheaper and more efficient. Plus, being an ex con makes it hard to ever get a job again, which in turn leads to further crime. That would be in Italy, of course.