Crime and Criminal Justice in Italy
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Volume 4 (4): 461–482: 1477-3708 DOI: 10.1177/1477370807080722 Copyright © 2007 European Society of Criminology and SAGE Publications Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore www.sagepublications.com
Crime and Criminal Policy in Italy*
Tradition and Modernity in a Troubled Country
Stefano Maffei
University of Parma, Italy
Isabella Merzagora Betsos
University of Milan, Italy
ABSTRACT This paper investigates the development of criminology research in Italy and places it in the context of broader considerations of the country’s policies on crime and criminal justice. An overview of Italian research on crime and criminology reveals the versatility of Italian literature and jurisprudence; it also indicates that ‘new’ forms of criminality (such as white-collar crimes, sexual offences and the crimes of immigrants) are being discussed alongside the more traditional topics of murder, crimes against property and organized crime. Furthermore, this survey attempts to clarify why, in Italy, the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system is so low, despite the numerous recent reforms and the official crime rates, according to which Italy is within the European norm for most categories of offences. KEY WORDS Criminal Policy / Italy / Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice.
1 Introduction
Italy may be considered the motherland of criminology in the 18th and 19th centuries. In those early days, the Classical and Positivist models offered
* Stefano Maffei wrote sections 1, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 4.3, 4.4 and 5; Isabella Merzagora Betsos wrote sections 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7.
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European Journal of Criminology 4(4)
opposing explanations of criminal behaviour and several distinguished Italians led the debate. In 1764, Cesare Beccaria published his masterpiece On Crimes and Punishments, arguing in favour of a
8/28/56
8:29 AM
Page 461
Volume 4 (4): 461–482: 1477-3708 DOI: 10.1177/1477370807080722 Copyright © 2007 European Society of Criminology and SAGE Publications Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore www.sagepublications.com
Crime and Criminal Policy in Italy*
Tradition and Modernity in a Troubled Country
Stefano Maffei
University of Parma, Italy
Isabella Merzagora Betsos
University of Milan, Italy
ABSTRACT This paper investigates the development of criminology research in Italy and places it in the context of broader considerations of the country’s policies on crime and criminal justice. An overview of Italian research on crime and criminology reveals the versatility of Italian literature and jurisprudence; it also indicates that ‘new’ forms of criminality (such as white-collar crimes, sexual offences and the crimes of immigrants) are being discussed alongside the more traditional topics of murder, crimes against property and organized crime. Furthermore, this survey attempts to clarify why, in Italy, the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system is so low, despite the numerous recent reforms and the official crime rates, according to which Italy is within the European norm for most categories of offences. KEY WORDS Criminal Policy / Italy / Public Confidence in the Criminal Justice.
1 Introduction
Italy may be considered the motherland of criminology in the 18th and 19th centuries. In those early days, the Classical and Positivist models offered
* Stefano Maffei wrote sections 1, 2.1, 2.2, 3, 4.3, 4.4 and 5; Isabella Merzagora Betsos wrote sections 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7.
080722_EUC_461-482.qxd
8/28/56
8:29 AM
Page 462
462
European Journal of Criminology 4(4)
opposing explanations of criminal behaviour and several distinguished Italians led the debate. In 1764, Cesare Beccaria published his masterpiece On Crimes and Punishments, arguing in favour of a