Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice

The analysis of the prosecutorial inquiry in Italian criminal proceedings displays a complex scenario. In spite of the progressive enhancement of participatory rights of private parties, the overwhelming role of the investigative authorities does not set the necessary conditions for effective equali...

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Main Author: Stefano Ruggeri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Brasileiro de Direito Processual Penal 2018-06-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Direito Processual Penal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ibraspp.com.br/revista/index.php/RBDPP/article/view/161
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author Stefano Ruggeri
author_facet Stefano Ruggeri
author_sort Stefano Ruggeri
collection DOAJ
description The analysis of the prosecutorial inquiry in Italian criminal proceedings displays a complex scenario. In spite of the progressive enhancement of participatory rights of private parties, the overwhelming role of the investigative authorities does not set the necessary conditions for effective equality of arms, while largely frustrating the tasks of the judiciary. To a great extent, the maintenance of several decision-making and coercive powers of the public prosecutor still largely reflect the old conception of an independent body of justice. Even though the individuals involved in the prosecutorial inquiry are ensured participation in a number of police and prosecutorial investigations, legal assistance often lacks effectiveness, and the possibilities of defence lawyers conducting autonomous investigations are scant and only achieve a formal level of par condicio. Certainly, this set-up cannot be justified in a human rights-oriented model of criminal justice. De lege ferenda, the enhancement of the tasks of competent judge for the pre-trial inquiry, who under Italian law is not an investigative magistrate but is called upon to ensure the proper fulfilment of procedural safeguards, appears to constitute today the best alternative to one-sided investigations and the dominant role of the investigative authorities.
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spelling doaj-art-45518f535d9e4d5a9ab6de435d453bbf2025-08-20T03:14:43ZengInstituto Brasileiro de Direito Processual PenalRevista Brasileira de Direito Processual Penal2525-510X2018-06-014255960310.22197/rbdpp.v4i2.16193Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justiceStefano Ruggeri0Università degli Studi di Messina/ItáliaThe analysis of the prosecutorial inquiry in Italian criminal proceedings displays a complex scenario. In spite of the progressive enhancement of participatory rights of private parties, the overwhelming role of the investigative authorities does not set the necessary conditions for effective equality of arms, while largely frustrating the tasks of the judiciary. To a great extent, the maintenance of several decision-making and coercive powers of the public prosecutor still largely reflect the old conception of an independent body of justice. Even though the individuals involved in the prosecutorial inquiry are ensured participation in a number of police and prosecutorial investigations, legal assistance often lacks effectiveness, and the possibilities of defence lawyers conducting autonomous investigations are scant and only achieve a formal level of par condicio. Certainly, this set-up cannot be justified in a human rights-oriented model of criminal justice. De lege ferenda, the enhancement of the tasks of competent judge for the pre-trial inquiry, who under Italian law is not an investigative magistrate but is called upon to ensure the proper fulfilment of procedural safeguards, appears to constitute today the best alternative to one-sided investigations and the dominant role of the investigative authorities.http://www.ibraspp.com.br/revista/index.php/RBDPP/article/view/161Equality of armsjudicial impartialitypre-trial inquiryItalian criminal justice.
spellingShingle Stefano Ruggeri
Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
Revista Brasileira de Direito Processual Penal
Equality of arms
judicial impartiality
pre-trial inquiry
Italian criminal justice.
title Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
title_full Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
title_fullStr Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
title_full_unstemmed Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
title_short Equality of arms, impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre-trial inquiry: the perspective of Italian criminal justice
title_sort equality of arms impartiality of the judiciary and the role of the parties in the pre trial inquiry the perspective of italian criminal justice
topic Equality of arms
judicial impartiality
pre-trial inquiry
Italian criminal justice.
url http://www.ibraspp.com.br/revista/index.php/RBDPP/article/view/161
work_keys_str_mv AT stefanoruggeri equalityofarmsimpartialityofthejudiciaryandtheroleofthepartiesinthepretrialinquirytheperspectiveofitaliancriminaljustice