NCJ Number
138950
Journal
EuroCriminology Volume: 3 Dated: (1990) Pages: 164-170
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This review of Italy's efforts to overcome terrorism highlights the country's "Reward Legislation" regarding penitents and its effectiveness.
Abstract
Reward Legislation, approved in Italy on 29 May 1982, has tried to adapt to four needs: to offer a concrete perspective on rehabilitating those who disassociate from armed combat; to assure a trial that is correct and guarantees full cross-examination between the parties as well as the control of public opinion on the activities conducted by State organizations; to confirm the principle that it is neither legal nor tolerable to leave unpunished acts that trouble the country and upset numerous families; and to avoid insidious repercussions at the security level as a result of particularly generous measures, for example, the recycling of terrorists. Italy's "Reward Legislation" demonstrates that criminal solidarity and "omerta," that is, conspiracy of silence, can be crushed, while recourse to harsher sanctions ends with reinforcing them.