NCJ Number
174330
Date Published
1997
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Italy's juvenile justice system is described in terms of its history, laws, definitions of juvenile delinquency, the nature and extent of youth crime, the administration of juvenile justice, and current issues related to juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
The most recent modifications in Italy's juvenile justice system date from 1988 and reflect the shift from an inquisitorial to an accusatory model for juvenile adjudication. The courts' jurisdiction covers all minors and is divided into three sectors: penal, civil, and administrative or rehabilitative. Minors under age 14 are not considered responsible and thus are automatically acquitted. Minors between ages 14 and 18 may be given a custodial sentence but are usually offered the benefit of certain leniency measures. Juvenile crime has increased over the last decade; violent crimes have increased among both adults and minors. During the 1980s and 1990s the number of minors convicted has steadily decreased, probably due to the increased possibility of dismissing cases before trial. The penal system tends to avoid incarcerating. However, foreign minors experience greater repression and more incarceration for less serious crimes than do Italian minors. Overall, the new juvenile justice system resulting from the reforms of 1988 represent a compromise among various ideologies. The system can best be described as a justice-oriented model even though the recent legislation suggests support for a welfare/modified justice model. Public concern about juvenile delinquency is a fairly recent phenomenon in Italy; the greatest attention focuses on foreign minors, especially gypsies and North Africans, and the involvement of minors in organized criminal activities. The juvenile justice system appears to be hesitating before the complexity of the problems; economic and financial issues are also hindering social services and prevention programs. Tables, figure, and 24 references