Grazia Mannozzi

Victim–offender mediation in areas characterized by high levels of organized crime

Little criminological research exists on the implementation of victim–offender mediation (VOM) in geographical areas characterized by a ‘crisis of legality’ owing to the massive presence of organized crime. The current paper examines why Italy can be seen as a case study, given that VOM has been successfully implemented in Northern Italy whereas it is still struggling in Southern Italy, a regional context deeply affected by organized crime and the Mafia subculture. It hypothesizes that the difficulties and the delays in implementing restorative justice and VOM in Southern Italy may be related to the pre-existing mediatory role played historically by Mafia leaders, which runs parallel to the ‘official’ VOM system. This paper also proposes some working hypotheses concerning the improvement of VOM in areas where criminality is strongly linked to Mafia-type organizations.

Mediation and Reconciliation Models in Italian Legal Experience

In the Italian legal system, two reconciliatory models have recently been introduced to the field of juvenile justice. These are based on diversion from trial and are “Discharge for petty offenses” and “Suspension of trial and probation.” In the latter, the judge may encourage reconciliation between the offender and the victim. This mediation is arranged by the judge, in collaboration with the social services, because prosecution is mandatory. The reform of juvenile justice in the context of the reform of the Italian code of criminal procedure has been inspired by three concepts: rehabilitation, victimology, and abolitionism. The results and efficacy of mediation must be carefully verified over the next years.

Die juristische und linguistische Herkunft des Terminus "Restorative Justice": Ein Dialog zwischen Recht, Philosophie und Rechtslinguistik

Im europäischen juristischen Kontext ist die Übersetzung normativer Dokumente in die verschiedenen Sprachen der EU-Staaten unausweichlich mit Problemen verbunden. Die strukturellen Unterschiede zwischen juristischen Systemen wie dem Common Law und dem Civil Law erhöhen die Komplexität in der linguistischen Transposition der einzelnen Rechtsinstitute. Jede Definition, die in eine der Arbeitssprachen der EU übersetzt werden muss, spiegelt kulturelle Traditionen der Herkunftsrechtsordnungen wider. Die Formulierung und Zirkulation von Rechtsinstituten vorwiegend in englischer Sprache kann außerdem verzerrte Interpretationsdynamiken verursachen, wenn diese nur auf die angelsächsische Kultur bezogen werden und folglich zu einem juristisch-philosophischen Verlust der Civil Law-Länder führen. Symptomatisch ist hier die Debatte über den Terminus der Restorative Justice, die bis heute fast ausschließlich von einer angelsächsischen Herkunft ausgeht und in der die mögliche italienische Matrize des Lexems nicht berücksichtigt wird.

Towards a ‘humanism of justice’ through restorative justice: a dialogue with history

The philosophical, legal, theological and anthropological origins of restorative justice and the programmes inspired by it are premised on a model of ‘doing justice’, which places the individual at its heart. This fact—which is revolutionary in that it marks a sea change from the criminal law perspective focusing solely on the perpetrator of the offence, and incorporates both the victim and the community into the handling of conflicts—has enabled restorative justice to be viewed as a kind of humanism of justice. This editorial will attempt to establish whether restorative justice can indeed be conceptualised as the form that a ‘humanism of justice’ must take, starting with a comparison between the specific features of Italian and European humanism on the one hand and those of restorative justice on the other. To this effect, it will be indispensable to refer to the writings of both scholars of restorative justice and fifteenthand sixteenth-century humanists, who disseminated the new Weltanschauung in which cultural forces originating from philosophy and the Reformation, but also from secular circles and the universities, sought to establish a dialogue between philosophy, the arts, science and politics that could overcome scientific divisions, philosophical controversies, theological disputes and political separatism. Conceived as a dialogue between ‘justice’ and ‘history’, this study will draw inspiration from an extraordinary publication: Storia moderna (2000) by Adriano Prosperi, one of today’s great historians.

Le tre sfide della giustizia riparativa: normativa, prassi e formazione

The Directive 2012/29/UE provides for a new scenario in the management of conflicts that are relevant to the criminal justice system. The victim, who is the coprotagonist in the criminal event, deserves the recognition of a series of rights: he/ she should receive an individualised and respectful treatment, he/she should have access to restorative justice services and should be provided with full and complete information in relation to the case that involves him/her. The importance of ensuring access to restorative justice programmes urges our Legislator to embark on legal and structural reforms to provide the victim with the safeguards and rights established by the Directive. This article illustrates the three main challenges posed by restorative justice to our legal system.

Combatir a la corrupción. Un recorrido entre criminología y derecho penal

Numero 125 Mayo - Agosto 2009 ISSN 0041 8633 COMBATIR A LA CORRUPCION. UN RECORRIDO ENTRE CRIMINOLOGIA Y DERECHO PENAL * FIGHTING CORRUPTION: BETWEEN CRIMINAL LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY Grazia MANNOZZI ** Corruption crimes represent a peculiar field of analysis in order to evaluate the contribution given by empirical sciences to the knowledge of criminality and to the selection of strategy and devices to combat crime. In particular, corruption is analysed in the perspective of crime policy, through the way of reading provided by statistical analysis, criminological research and law and economics. Descriptors : corruption/bribery, white collar crime, organized crime, dark number of crime, tunnel effect. * Articulo recibido el 14 de agosto de 2008 y aceptado para su publicacion el 16 de febrero de 2009. Traduccion del italiano de Adrian Renteria Diaz. El texto fue publicado en Diritto penale e processo , 6, 2008, pp. 775-783. ** Profesora de Derecho penal en la Facolta di Giurisprudenza, Universita degli Studi dell´Insubria, Como, Italia. * Nota: Debido que la traduccion es automatica podra ser inexacta o contener errores.