Instructional goals
The course aims at providing fundamental knowledge of criminal procedure rules to the students, also with a view to preparing them to the University profile focused on criminal law and procedure in which they can choose to enroll as well as to the exercise of professional or judicial activity in the future.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Constitutional Law and Criminal Law.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: through course attendance, group discussions on cases and workshops, the student will gain full knowledge and understanding of the rules and general principles concerning criminal procedure law. The student will also learn to interpret such provisions in the light of the supranational legal framework and will show his/her/their ability to use the main criminal procedure research methods. At the end of the course, there will be an oral exam.
Applying knowledge and understanding: by learning the theory and the appropriate legal method, the student will be able to interpret and apply, also to practical cases, the fundamental principles and notions of criminal procedure law. The student will have the basic knowledge of the subject necessary to operate in the main sectors of legal professions. The student will also be able to correlate these principles and institutions established in the national system with those settled at the supranational level.
The student will be able to use the main criminal procedure research methods in legal drafting and in oral presentations. Such knowledge will be ascertained through the evaluation of students’ presentations.
The workshops will allow, through the constant interaction between class and Professor, to verify in real-time the hard and soft skills acquired by students.
At the end of the course, there will be an oral exam.
Making judgments: The student, by making use of the proper study and research methods learned during the course, will be able to collect data and materials to analyze the relevant provisions, case law as well as scholars’ approaches to criminal procedure law. The student, therefore, will gain – also through the participation in workshops – the ability to evaluate such data and materials independently and to make critical judgments on the application of principles and fundamental categories of criminal procedure law to practical cases. The student will be also able to identify concrete solutions to the legal issues at stake.
Communication skills: at the end of the course the student will be able to master the legal and technical vocabulary of criminal procedure law, addressing the legal issues at hand with the proper terminology.
Through the various training activities that will take place during the course, the student will be able to put these communication skills into practice in various contexts (individual or group) and forms (written or oral), thus gaining advanced rhetorical and argumentative skills and the ability to adapt the terms used to the context and to the interlocutor in the specific case.
Learning skills: the knowledge gained during the course will allow the student to independently understand and interpret regulatory changes, new case law and scholars’ approaches related to the fundamental principles and notions of criminal procedure law.
The knowledge and application of these principles and institutions during the course will also provide the student with the essential skills to undertake the various post-graduate professional specialization courses.
In addition, through participation in workshops, the student will improve his/her ability to use the basic methods to design, carry out and present the results of research in the area of criminal procedure law.
The student will be able to solve new exegetical problems on the basis of the fundamental theoretical skills acquired and will develop the technical-operational approach typical of the legal experience of lawyers and judges.
Course Contents
Backgrounds, models and conceptions of criminal procedure law - Criminal procedure rules - Constitutional principles - Subjects - Acts (physiology and pathology) - Evidence - Preliminary investigations - Prosecution and dismissal – Participation of the parties in the proceedings, presence and absence of the defendant, participation of the defense counsel - Preliminary hearing - Case files - Trial hearing - Amendment of the charges - Relations between different trials - Special proceedings – Judicial review - Precautionary measures – Repairing injustice - The ne bis in idem principle.
Reference Books
Suggested textbooks:
P. Moscarini – M. L. Di Bitonto, Introduzione alla procedura penale, II ed., Giappichelli, 2020; A. Camon - C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, V ed., Cedam, 2025, from ch. I to ch. XX, para. 4.4.
Teaching Methods
Teaching methodologies:
- frontal teaching
- participation in criminal hearings
- penitentiary tour
- seminars on specific topics
Assessment Method
During the oral exam, the student will be required to show that he/she knows and understands notions and principles of criminal procedure and that he/she is able to apply them to practical cases. The student is expected to be able to independently analyze sources and relevant theories of criminal procedure and to use the appropriate technical and legal vocabulary, thus proving that he/she has acquired the study method and the learning ability for carrying on, also independently, further study of the matter.
The following evaluation criteria will be taken into account to assign the final grade, expressed in thirtieths: knowledge and understanding of the notions and principles of the matter and ability to apply them to practical cases (65%); appropriate use of the technical and legal vocabulary, ability to analyze and evaluate relevant sources and acquisition of the study method (35%).
Learning gaps concerning one or more notions or principles will lead to a negative evaluation, even in presence of basic knowledge of the matter.
Intermediate verifications of the preparation of students taking part in classes, being understood that the mark will be assigned after the final exam which will take place, at the end of the course, according to the methods and evaluation and criteria above specified.
Thesis assignment criteria
None
Week 1
LESSON I 1) What is Criminal Procedure Law: normative texts, system, dogmatic and conceptual elaboration; 2) criminal law and criminal trial: the "intrinsic unity" of the criminal system; 3) the inquisitorial model and the adversarial model; 4) the Code d’Instruction Criminelle and the mixed model; 5) the 1930 Criminal Procedural Code; 6) The Constitution and criminal procedure; 7) the reform of criminal procedure: the central role of the formation of evidence at trial; 8) the new rules introduced by the so-called ‘Cartabia’ reform (P. Moscarini- M.L. Di Bitonto, Introduzione alla procedura penale, cap. I, II; A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. I, II and IV). LESSON II 1) The formation of evidence in the trial and its implications on the structure of the proceeding; 2) alternative proceedings; 3) investigations and evidence; 4) the relativistic conception of evidence; 5) the new Criminal Procedure Code and the following legal developments; (P. Moscarini- M.L. Di Bitonto, Introduzione alla procedura penale, cap.V, pagg. 102-125; A. Camon –C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. II, Sec. II e III; ch. IV, § 12; ch. VII, § 1; ch. VIII, § 1; ch. XIII, § 4.1; ch. XVI, § 1) LESSON III 1) Fair trial (art. 111); 2) the international and supranational dimension (artt. 10, 26 and 117) (A. Camon –C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. III, §§ 2-4.2, ch. IV, § 1) LESSON IV 1) The discipline of procedural documents; 2) council chamber proceedings; 3) the obligation to immediately declare certain non-punishment causes; (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VI, Sec. I, §§ 1-8; ch. IX, § 9).
Week 2
LESSON I Invalidities: the discipline of nullity and exclusionary rules. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VI, Sec. II, §§ 1-7). LESSON II 1) Criminal judges in the Italian legal system 2) The natural judge previously established by the law and jurisdiction rules (territorial, subject matter jurisdiction and connection jurisdiction; the so called “functional jurisdiction”; prerogatives of the collegial and of the single judge); 4) Incompatibility, abstention and recusal; 5) Remission of the trial. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. V, §§ 1-6) LESSON III Public prosecutor and judicial police (artt. 109 and 112). (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. IV, §§ 7-8, ch. V, §§ 7- 8) LESSON IV 1) The accused and the person under investigation; 2) The right to remain silent and general rules on questioning; 3) The early protection of the right to silence and self-incriminating statements. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. V, §§ 9-9.3)
Week 3
LESSON I 1) The defense counsel; 2) Guarantees of the lawyer; 3) Conversations between the defense counsel and the defendant; 4) Public and private defender and legal aid; 5) Other private parties. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. V, §§ 10-15) LESSON II 1) Examination of the defendant during investigations and at trial; 2) Examination of the defendant in his own proceeding; 3) Examination of the defendant erga alios in separate proceedings against others or in his own proceeding; 4) Examination of the defendant as a witness (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VII, sec. II, §§ 2-4). LESSON III 1) The right to silence in the case law of European Courts and in Italian Courts (sentences suggested by the Professor and available in the teaching materials) LESSON IV Preliminary investigations: purposes and subjects; activities on the initiative of the judicial police; acquisition of the news of crime; statements collected by the judicial police (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. V, §§ 7-8; ch. VIII, §§ 1-4, 7.3, 7.5.
Week 4
LESSON I 1) Search by judicial police and other acts; 2) Identification of the person under investigation; 3) Documentation of the activity of the Judicial police; 4) Judicial police activity and formation of evidence. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VIII §§ 7-7.10; ch. VII, Sec. II, §§ 1.9, 1.11, 1.12, 1.13; ch. VII, Sez. III, § 2; ch. VI, Sec. I, § 6) LESSON II 1) Investigation acts by the Public Prosecutor; 2) Filing of the crime report and duration of investigations; 3) Connected investigations; 4) Supplementary and integrative investigations; 5) Call-back of investigations. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VIII, §§ 1-7.11; ch. XI, § 5, 9.7) LESSON III Undercover operations (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, cap. VIII § 7.11) LESSON IV Wiretapping: discipline and case-law (Italian Courts and European Courts) (ch. VII, Sec. III, §§ 6-6.3)
Week 5
LESSON I 1) The defense in preliminary investigations; 2) Information of guarantee; 3) Defense investigations. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VIII, §9). II LEZIONE Pre-trial gathering of evidence (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VIII, § 8). LESSON III Requirements for pre-trial detention and other personal precautionary measures . (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVIII, §§ 1-4). LESSON IV 1) Criteria for choosing which precautionary measure to apply; 2) The judicial order to be issued upon the Prosecutor’s request; 3) Questioning. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVIII, §§ 5-8).
Week 6
LESSON I 1) The re-examination under art. 309 c.p.p.; 2) the appeal under art. 310 c.p.p.; 3) Review by the Court of Cassation. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVIII, §§ 10-11) LESSON II 1) Terms of duration, revocation and substitution of precautionary measures measures; 2) victims and pre-trial detention. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVIII, §§ 9 and 12) LESSON III In rem precautionary measures and remedies. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIX, §§ 17) LESSON IV 1) The arrest in flagrante delicto; 2) flagrance and deferred flagrance; 3) the arrest outside of flagrante delicto; 4) Urgent removal from family home; 5) terms and stages of the validation procedure. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVIII, §§ 14-16)
Week 7
LESSON I 1) Conclusion of investigations; 2) Dismissal of the crime news: requirements and proceeding; 3) Reopening of the investigations. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. IX, §§ 1,5-9) LESSON II Reparation for wrongful detention, in the light of the internal and European Court of Human Rights case-law. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIX, §§ 3-3.4) LESSON III 2) Notice about conclusion of investigations; 2) Request for indictment and scheduling of the preliminary hearing; 3) Participation of the parties in the hearing (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VIII, § 9.5; ch. IX, § 2; ch. XI, §§ 1-8.1). LESSON IV 1) Notifications and unavailability; 2) In absentia trials. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VI, § 7; ch. X, §§ 1-5)
Week 8
LESSON I 1) Preliminary hearing and additional evidence; 2) Decision not to prosecute and judgment decree; 3) Formation of files. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XI, §§ 1-9.7 e ch. XII, §§ 1-5). LESSON II 1) Pre-trial stage; 2) Preliminary and prejudicial matters. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIII, §§ 2, 3.1, 3.2; ch. XV, § 3) LESSON III Shortened and immediate judgment. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVI, §§ 1- 2.5, 9-9.7) LESSON IV 1) General principles governing trial; 2) The right to introduce evidence and the discipline of trial; 4) Witness lists; 5) Pre-trial acquittal. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri - P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. VII, Sec. I, §§ 3 e 4; ch. XIII, §§ 1-3.1 e §§ 4-5)
Week 9
LESSON I 1) Formation of evidence; 2) The challenging of witness statements during trial; 3) Competency to testify and witness privilege grounded on secrets; 4) Examination of judicial police agents and officers. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIII, §§ 8-13; ch. VII, Sec. II, § 1) LESSON II 1) Readings of pre-trial probatory material and exclusionary rules; 2) Amendment of charges; 3) The judicial power to amend the legal characterization of facts. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIII, §§ 14-15; ch. XIV, §§ 1-5) LESSON III The principle of immediacy (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIII, § 4.1; case-law and papers provided by the Professor) LESSON IV 1) Ex officio admission of evidence; 2) Conclusion of the trial (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XIII, § 7, §§ 16-18 and case-law provided by the Professor)
Week 10
LESSON I 1) Remedies against judicial pronouncements; 2) Form, procedure and time limits for the submission of the challenge; 3) New grounds for challenge, suspensive and extensive effect of the challenge. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, Sec. I, §§ 1-15) LESSON II The appeal. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, Sec. II, §§ 1-9) LESSON III 1) The Italian plea bargaining (art. 444 ss. c.p.p.); 2) Probation. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVI, §§ 3-4.2) LESSON IV Renewal of the formation of evidence; agreement on the grounds of appeal; incident appeal. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, §§ 7.1-8.1, § 3 and case-law provided by the Professor)
Week 11
LESSON I 1) The appeal before the Court of Cassation; 2) Cases of appeal and cognition of the Court; 3) The control on the reasoning: critical issues; 4) Conclusion of the judgment; 5) Remittal judgment. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, Sec. III, §§ 1-15) LESSON III Criminal decree of conviction and direct judgment. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVI, §§ 8-8.7, §§ 10-10.5) LESSON IV Revision and extraordinary motion for material or factual error. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, Sez. IV, §§ 1-4; Sec. VI, §§ 1-3, §§ 5-7)
Week 12
LESSON I Res iudicata. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XX, §§ 1-8) LESSON II The request of enforcing the C. E.d.u. judgments. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. XVII, Sec. VI, § 4 and paper written by the professor) LESSON III 1) Reparation of judicial error; 2) Reparation for excessive length of the proceeding; 3) Reparation for inhuman detention. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. IV, § 16; ch. XIX, §§ 1-5). LESSON IV The rescission of res iudicata. (A. Camon – C. Cesari – M. Daniele – M.L. Di Bitonto – D. Negri – P. Paulesu, Fondamenti di procedura penale, ch. X, § 6).