The essay gives a critical account of the subject of institutionalization, particularly in its present new forms, or apparent such, compared with those that attracted attention and cultural, intellectual and political mobilization in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Starting from an «operative» interpretation of Martha Nussbaum’s conception of capabilities, and considers the link between discrimination, segregation and institutionalization, proposes an epidemiology of citizenship as a methodological basis for giving visibility to these phenomena, analyses the lack of information available and finally suggests a framework of proof-rights-experimentation for social workers and all those involved, to summarize today the liberating effect of the de-institutionalizing movements in the so-called reform period.