Opening the scope on offenses that can be prosecuted on partisan complaint, Legislative decree no. 36 has extended the ability to prosecute in crimes against person and property.

Increased to the offenses that can be prosecuted on complaint of part following the entry into force of the legislative decree number 36 dated 10 April 2018.

From May 9th of last year, the number of the crimes that can be prosecuted on the partisan complaint was extended; by Legislative Decree. n. 36/2018 concerning “Provisions for amendments to the rules governing the procedure for certain crimes implementing the delegation pursuant to art. paragraph 16, lett. a) and b) and 17, of the law 23 June 2017, n.103 “.

With the aforementioned decree, which consists of 13 articles, offenses can be prosecuted on complaint for which the initiation of criminal proceedings will depend on if the victim requests prosecute the perpetrators of the crime.

Expansion for Simplification

Contents

  • Expansion for Simplification
  • Reconciliation
  • Crimes against the victim
  • Crimes against property
  • The importance of the victim
  • Before May 9th

The institute of prosecution on a partisan complaint extends to a list of cases of offenses against the person punished with a single monetary penalty or with an imprisonment sentence not exceeding four years (with the exception violent crimes, as per Article 610 of the Criminal Code.

The legislative decree refers to the crime of threat, violation of residence committed by a public official: falsification, alteration or suppression of the communications including telegraphic or telephone conversations and computer or telematic. This definition extends to the violation, subtraction and deletion of correspondence committed by a person in charge of postal services, telegraphs or telephones.

For the cases listed above, they are, however, some exceptions. Therefore, expanding the sphere of crimes for which criminal proceedings will be prosecuted following complaint by the victim, and whilst simultaneously reducing the sphere of offenses that can be prosecuted ex officio (by virtue of one’s position or status).

The lawsuit is thus a condition of prosecution of the criminal proceedings; therefore, for the offenses for which it is provided, without the same and, therefore, in absence of a request by the victim, criminal charges will not be pursued and no criminal proceedings or investigation will be initiated.

Reconciliation

The objective of the reform of the Penal Code and of criminal procedure is to “improve the efficiency of the penal system, favoring mechanisms of conciliation for minor offenses, including through the operation of the institution of extinction of the offense for reparatory conduct” explains the Council of Ministers.

When the punishment of the guilty party is of interest only to the victim, in the event that the offense has not impacted any third party, the interest of the victim is considered during the prosecution. Without the manifestation of this act, the State renounces the punitive claim, streamlining and lightening the workload on magistrates.

It should also be emphasized that with this reform, reconciliation tools will be utilized and improved.

Crimes against the victim

Article 623 is introduced to the Criminal Code in the aim of maintaining the ex officio prosecution for crimes against a victim in the event that aggravating circumstances occur.

This means that threats aggravated with the purpose of terrorism, organized crime and subversion or those which are aggravated by racial, ethnic and religious discrimination can not be prosecuted.

The offenses taken into consideration by the new provisions of the law are those as follows:

  1. threats: in the instance of a serious threat, the perpetrator may be punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, and becomes liable to prosecution, in lieu of a fine of up to 1032 euros. The procedure of office is maintained in situations where the threat is exacerbated by certain circumstances provided for by art. 338 of the Penal Code (violence or threat to a political, administrative or judicial body).
  2. violations of residence committed by public officials: if there is an abuse of the power inherent to the functions of a public official or without the formalities prescribed by law.
  3. violations concerning correspondence:
    a) “Falsification, alteration or suppression of communications, telegraphic or telephone conversations, in order to obtain an advantage for themselves or others or actions which bring harm to others “.
    b) “Undue revelation of the content of open correspondence or communications similar to (telegraph or telephone) committed by a person in charge of postal services, telegraphs or phones “.
  1. fraud in the field of computer science: “falsification, alteration or suppression of computer or telecommunications content”.

Crimes against property

On the subject of property crimes, the number of aggravating circumstances that lead to the prosecution of office has been reduced:

  1. aggravated fraud: it has been established that the pursuit of office will be maintained only in case of particularly serious financial damage.
  2. crimes against animals: crime of killing or harm to animals. (On this point, already under discussion, there have been strong protests because there is less protection for both animals and for breeders, in fact only one complaint can be filed in relation to “killing or damage to three or more heads of cattle collected in a flock or herd “and not always those who suffer have the courage to report")
  3. embezzlement: paragraph 3 of Art. 10 which contemplates the possibility of ex officio procedure.

The importance of the victim

Those who report a crime will be called to give testimony of the offense, thus activating possible mechanisms of conciliation at the beginning of the trial, and avoiding unnecessary delays.

Before May 9th

By entering into force the legislative decree 36/2018, for the crimes that have been committed before May 9th, and whose proceedings are already underway, it is up to the public prosecutor, if still in the preliminary investigation phase, or to the judge, to inform the victim of the new possibility for them to exercise the right of complaint, with effect from the day on which it was informed.

The case is different in that the trials are pending before the Court of Cassation, because in this case the new provisions of the law will be difficult to apply.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.