Italy’s Security and Justice Crisis: Expert Insights from Brescia Magistrate
The image has not emerged in the best possible way, and unfortunately the reality of Italian security and justice, at the end of the intervention by lawyer Raffaele Della Valle supported by confirmations from the Brescia magistrate Emilio Quaranta. The meeting was proposed by the Lions Club Garda Valtenesi, presided over by Alberto Rigoni. “Protection of citizen security in the pursuit of guarantees and the certainty of guarantees.”
Of course, and it could not be otherwise, the presentation was strictly confidential—“told” by one of Italy’s most renowned criminal lawyers, often featured in the news for his illustrious clients, as well as for intriguing legal cases like the Tortora trial, the defense of model Terry Brone and the Ambrosiano scandal, as well as the defense of Salvatore Ligresti and Epifanio Li Calzi (Tangentopoli), Giorgio Strehler regarding the subsidy to the Piccolo Teatro. More recently, he defended General Francesco Delfino. A figure of some prominence and, above all, with a professional background of undeniable value.
This is why his statements regarding a very dramatic situation concerning security and justice have raised considerable concern. “Every morning, during the short journey we all make to go to work, we encounter at least a dozen prosecutable crimes—from begging and juvenile prostitution to theft, pickpocketing, etc.—without any authorities intervening, even though we often see many uniformed officers and often their efforts are ineffective or misused.”
Every day at my office, 6 to 8 Carabinieri regularly come with their vehicles and fuel being wasted, to deliver documents. These men could be better utilized in crime repression, especially now that there are transmission tools ranging from fax to email. If personnel is genuinely needed, they could be selected from specialized service institutes, leaving the operational agents free for active duty.
Not to mention the cars used for grocery shopping or to take children to school. A clear wastefulness that raises questions, especially when one hears that the Police Force lacks personnel. Della Valle pointed out that personnel exists—it’s a matter of better utilization.
And then there are the various laws and minor regulations, often due to “crazy reforms,” that is, reform of reforms—legislation driven by a legislative responsibility that enacts schizophrenic laws. Magistrate Quaranta also lamented, among many justice-related issues, the lack of funds.
“In Brescia, in 1998, over 3.5 billion lire were collected,” which often forces officers to leave service cars idle or delay outgoing mail because of the inability to buy fuel or stamps. “There is a high demand for security in Italy, given the pervasive presence of illegal activities; a country where crimes are constantly increasing and, often, remain unpunished.”
84% of these crimes never see the arrest of the culprit; 14% of those arrested often do not serve the full sentence, making criminal activity quite easy and safe. Therefore, it is better to enforce less conspicuous penalties, but with the certainty of complete expiation.”
The Slowness of Justice
Judge Quaranta emphasized the slow pace of trials, to the extent that the European Court of Justice recently condemned Italy to pay an 8 billion lire fine due to judges’ delays in their decisions, describing Justice as a whole as “an indecorous spectacle,” with many “protagonists.”