Instructional goals
Provide students with tools for analysing criminal offences in the light of the institutes of the general part of criminal law, also resorting to the indispensable systematic reading.
Prerequisites
The study of the general part of criminal law
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the student – through course attendance and practical activities – will gain full knowledge of the subject and of general categories of criminal law and concepts of the criminal code, also in the light of the supranational regulatory framework. At the end of the course there will be an oral exam.
Applying knowledge and understanding: The student, by learning the theory and the appropriate legal method, will be able to interpret and apply, also to cases, principles and concepts of criminal law. The student will be able to compare these principles with those established at the supranational level. At the end of the course, an oral exam will take place.
Making judgements: The student, by making use of the appropriate methods learned during the course, will be able to collect data and materials to analyse the relevant provisions, case law as well as scholars’ approaches related to criminal law. The student will gain the ability to evaluate such data independently and to make critical judgements on their application to practical cases.
Communication skills: At the end of the course the student will be able to use the legal and technical vocabulary of criminal law, addressing the legal issues at hand with terminological accuracy. Through the various activities that will take place during the course – lessons with discussion, oral exams, moot courts, workshops – the student will be able to put these communication skills into practice in various contexts, by adapting the terms used to the interlocutor in the specific case, thus gaining advanced rhetorical skills necessary for his/her professional career.
Learning skills: the technical and legal knowledge gained during the course will allow the student to independently understand and interpret regulatory changes, new case law and scholars’ approaches related to criminal law. The student will develop a solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the matter that will allow him/her to carry on also independently further study as well as to undertake different postgraduate training activities.
Course Contents
The institutional study of the most important crimes against the person, property, public order, course of justice and public administration.
Reference Books
G. Fiandaca – E. Musco, Vol. I, ultima edizione, Zanichelli Cap. 2, “Delitti contro la pubblica amministrazione”, Nozioni generali §§1 e 2, Sez. I §§1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10; Cap. 3, “I delitti con l’amministrazione della giustizia”, §§ 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,16,19; Cap. 5, Sez. II, “I delitti di associazione”; Vol. 2, tomo 1, VI edizione, Zanichelli, 2024 Cap. I, “I delitti contro la vita e l’incolumità personale”, Sez. I “I delitti di omicidio”, §§1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12; Sez. III “I delitti contro l’incolumità personale”, §§ 1,2,3,4,6,7,8; Cap. 3, Sez. II “Le norme contro le nuove forme di riduzione in schiavitù”; Cap. IV, Sez. II, “I delitti contro la libertà morale”, §§ 5,8,9; Cap. V, “I delitti contro la libertà sessuale”; Vol. 2, tomo 2, VIII edizione, Zanichelli, 2023 Cap. I “I delitti contro il patrimonio in generale”; Cap. II, “I delitti di aggressione unilaterale”, §§ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; Cap. 3 “I delitti di cooperazione con la vittima”, §§ 1,2,3,4; Cap. IV “I delitti di circolazione e reimpiego di cose o capitali illeciti”; In alternativa Bartoli, Roberto, Marco Pelissero, and Sergio Seminara. Diritto Penale: Lineamenti Di Parte Speciale. Torino: G. Giappichelli, 2024 Parte Prima: Cap. I - Cap. III (ad eccezione del § 5 della Sezione III: i delitti contro la maternità), Cap. IV, §§ 1,2,3,5; Cap. VI (limitatamente ai §§ 4,5, e 6); Cap. VII; Parte Seconda: Cap. I, Cap. II, Cap. III (ad eccezione dei §§ 4,5, e 5.1.), Cap. IV (ad eccezione dei §§ 3, 3.1. e 3.2.) Cap. VI, Cap. VII; Parte Terza: Cap. I, Cap. II, Cap. III, Cap. IV, Cap. V (limitatamente ai § 1 e 1.1.); Parte Quarta: Cap. I, §§ 3,4,5,6,7, (ad eccezione dei §§ 7.1. e 7.5.) e 17,17.1, 17.2. Parte Quinta: Cap. III (limitatamente all’introduzione e alla Sezione I, §§ da 1 a 3 e da 6 a 6.4.) Following didactical materials and documents will be shared.
Teaching Methods
Theoretical lessons; discussion of judicial cases with students; practical workshops.
Assessment Method
Final oral exam.
During the oral exam the student will be required to show that he/she knows and understands offences which are part of the syllabus, notions and principles of criminal law and that he/she is able to apply them to practical cases. The student is expected to be able to independently analyse sources and relevant theories of criminal law 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 subject, notions and principles of the matter and ability to apply them to concrete cases (65%); appropriate use of the technical and legal vocabulary, ability to analyse and evaluate relevant sources and acquisition of the study method (35%).
Learning gaps concerning one or more notions or principles will lead to an insufficient evaluation, even in presence of a basic knowledge of the matter.
Thesis assignment criteria
Interest and ability for the discipline; high grade as a result of the oral exam; attendance of the chosen major.
Week 1
CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON Course presentation Introduction to the study of the special part Section I – Crimes against life and individual safety: general framework Topic 1.1. Murder crimes: problems and protection systemsTopic 1.2. Therapeutic activity Topic 1.3. Intentional homicideTopic 1.4. Unintentional homicide Topic 1.5. Death or injury as a consequence of another crime Topic 1.6. Incitement to suicide and consenting homicideTopic 1.7. Negligent homicide and road homicide Topic 1.8. The cases of assault and battery ----------------------------------------------------------- Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco, Vol. 2, volume 1, Chap. I, “Crimes against life and personal safety”, Section I “Crimes of murder”, §§1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12; Section III “Crimes against personal safety”, §§ 1,2,3,4,6,7,8; Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part One: Chap. I - Chap. III (with the exception of § 5 of Section III: crimes against maternity); Chap. IV, §§ 1,2,3,5; Chap. VI (limited to §§ 4,5, and 6); Chap. VII.
Week 2
Section II Crimes against moral freedom Topic 2.1. Torture Topic 2.2. Stalking Section III Crimes against individual personality and sexual freedom Topic 3.1. Child prostitution, child pornography, possession of pornographic material and virtual pornography; Topic 3.2. Crimes of sexual violence ----------------------------------------------------------- Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca- Musco, Vol. 2, Volume 1 Ch. 3, Section II “The rules against new forms of slavery”; Ch. IV, Section II, “Crimes against moral freedom”, §§ 5,8,9; Ch. V, “Crimes against sexual freedom”; Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part I: Ch. IV, Ch. V, Ch. VI, Ch. VII.
Week 3
CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTYSection I – General notions on crimes against property Topic 1.1. Notion of property Topic 1.2. Notion of thing and otherness TOPIC 1.3. Notion of damage and profit TOPIC 1.4. Criminal notion of possession Section IIIThe crime of theft Topic 2.1. Material object of the action Topic 2.2. Executive action: subtraction and seizureTopic 2.3. The specific intent to make a profit Section III – Other crimes against property Topic 3.1. The crime of embezzlement Topic 3.2. The crime of fraudFrom case to norm: analysis and group discussion of cases. -----------------------------------------------------------Parts of the reference manual related to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca – Musco Vol. 2, volume 2, VIII edition, Chap. I “Crimes against property in general”; Chap. II, “Crimes of unilateral aggression”, §§ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; Chap. 3 “Crimes of cooperation with the victim”, §§ 1,2,3,4; Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part Two, Chap. I, II, III, IV
Week 4
Sec. IV Topic 4.1 The crime of robberyTopic 4.2. Proper and improper robbery and attempted Topic 4.3. The crime of extortion Topic 4.4. 2. Volume 2, VIII edition Chapter II, “The crimes of unilateral aggression”, §§ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; Bartoli-Pelissero-Seminara Part Two, Chapter VI
Week 5
(continued)Section V – The crime of receiving stolen goods and money laundering crimes Topic 5.1. Receiving stolen goods and incautious purchaseTopic 5.2. Money laundering and self-launderingTopic 5.3. Bartoli-Pelissero-Seminara Part Two, Chapter VII
Week 6
CRIMES AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE Section I Topic 1.1. The crime of slander Topic 1.2. Personal aiding and abetting Topic 1.3 The crime of providing false information to the public prosecutor (continued) Topic 1.4. False statements to the defense attorney Topic 1.5. Special exemptions------------------------------------------------------------Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. I, latest edition Ch. 3, “Crimes against the administration of justice”, §§ 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,16,19 Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part IV, Ch. I
Week 7
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Section II Topic 2.1. Evolution of the discipline Topic 2.2. Subjective qualifications Section III Topic 3.1. The crime of embezzlement ------------------------------------------------------------- Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Chap. 2, “Crimes against public administration”, General notions §§1 and 2, Section I §§1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10 Bartoli-Pelissero-Seminara Part Three, Chap. I, II
Week 8
Section IV – Extortion and corruption Topic 4.1. Evolution of the discipline Topic 4.2. Extortion Topic 4.3. Undue inducement to give or promise Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Chap. 2, “Crimes against public administration”, General notions §§1 and 2, Section I §§1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10 Bartoli-Pelissero-Seminara Part Three, Chap. IV
Week 9
Section V – Crimes of corruption Topic 5.1. Corruption in the exercise of a function Topic 5.2. Corruption proper Topic 5.3. Corruption in judicial acts Topic 5.4. Incitement to corruption------------------------------------------------------------Parts of the reference manual related to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Ch. 2, “Crimes against public administration”, General notions §§1 and 2, Sec. I §§1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10 Bartoli-Pelissero-Seminara Part Three, Ch. IV
Week 10
Section VI Topic 6.1. Corruption in judicial acts; Topic 6.2. International corruption; Section VII Topic 7.1. Illicit influence peddling; Topic 7.2. Abuse of office (abolition) and misuse of money or movable property Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Ch. 2, “Crimes against public administration”, General notions §§1 and 2, Section I §§1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10 Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part Three, Ch. V
Week 11
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER Section I – Association crimes and protected legal asset Topic 1.1. Criminal association Topic 1.2. Mafia-style criminal association Topic 1.3. The mafia method Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Ch. 5, Sec. II, “Association crimes”; Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part Three, Section I, Ch. I
Week 12
Section II Topic 2.1. External competition in mafia association Topic 2.2. Mafia political electoral exchange Section II – Simulated trial Parts of the reference manual relating to the topics covered this week: Fiandaca-Musco Vol. 1, latest edition Ch. 5, Section II, “Crimes of association”; Bartoli – Pelissero – Seminara Part Three, Section I, Ch. I