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Presumption of Innocence: Procedural Rights in Criminal Proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET)

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Presumption of Innocence: Procedural Rights in Criminal Proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET) Presumption of Innocence: procedural rights in criminal proceedings Social Fieldwork Research (FRANET) Country: ITALY Contractor’s name: Fondazione ‘Giacomo Brodolini’ Authors: Marta Capesciotti Reviewer: Silvia Sansonetti Date: 26 July 2020 (Revised version: 31 August 2020; second revision: 01 October 2020) DISCLAIMER: This document was commissioned under contract as background material for a comparative analysis by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the project ‘Presumption of Innocence’. The information and views contained in the document do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA. The document is made publicly available for transparency and information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion. Table of Contents PART A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 5 PART B. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 8 B.1 PREPARATION OF FIELDWORK ........................................................................................... 8 B.2 IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS ................................................... 9 B.3 SAMPLE AND DESCRIPTION OF FIELDWORK ...................................................................... 9 B.4 DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................ 10 B.5 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................... 11 PART C. RIGHTS IN PRACTICE – ANALYSIS OF THE INTERVIEWS .................................................... 15 C.1 The right to be presumed innocent in general ................................................................. 15 a. How are the different professions implementing the presumption of innocence? ........... 15 b. Potential factors that have an effect on guaranteeing the presumption of innocence ...... 17 c. The role of prejudices and stigma ....................................................................................... 22 d. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 24 C.2 Public references to guilt .................................................................................................. 24 a. How do the different professions liaise with the media? ................................................... 24 b. Effects the media have on presumption of innocence........................................................ 29 c. Differences in media coverage concerning certain groups ................................................. 31 d. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 33 C.3 The presentation of suspects and accused persons ......................................................... 33 a. Measures used to present the accused and its impact on their presumption of innocence ... 33 b. Clothing ................................................................................................................................ 37 c. Presentation of vulnerable groups ...................................................................................... 38 d. Reactions to presenting the accused as being guilty .......................................................... 39 e. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 40 C.4 Burden of proof ................................................................................................................ 40 a. Exceptions to the burden of proof ...................................................................................... 41 b. Confession ........................................................................................................................... 43 c. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 46 C.5 The right to remain silent and not to incriminate oneself ............................................... 46 a. The right to remain silent in practice .................................................................................. 46 b. How is information on the right to remain silent and not to incriminate oneself shared with the accused? ......................................................................................................................... 48 c. Self-incrimination ................................................................................................................ 49 d. Right to remain silent .......................................................................................................... 50 2 e. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 51 C.6 The right to be present at the trial and to have a new trial ............................................. 52 a. Consequences of non-appearance ...................................................................................... 52 b. What has been understood as ‘effective participation’? .................................................... 53 c. Vulnerable groups ............................................................................................................... 57 d. Discussion of findings .......................................................................................................... 58 C.7 Challenges and improvements ......................................................................................... 58 a. Challenges ............................................................................................................................ 58 b. Improvements ..................................................................................................................... 61 c. Suggestions .......................................................................................................................... 61 PART D. GENERAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................. 63 PART E. CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................... 64 Annex – Case studies .................................................................................................................. 66 3 List of Tables Table 1: Sample professionals 4 PART A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For the country report on Italy on ‘Presumption of Innocence: Procedural Rights in Criminal Proceedings’, the Fondazione ‘Giacomo Brodolini’ interviewed 12 professionals between February and September 2020. The main findings were grouped in analysis under six headings: The right to be presumed innocent in general Public references to guilt The presentation of suspects and accused persons Burden of proof The right to remain silent and not to incriminate oneself The right to be present at the trial and to have a new trial The Directive 2016/343/EU has not been formally transposed in the Italian legal system. However, the principle of the presumption of innocence is enshrined in the Italian Constitution (Article 27) and most of the procedural rights guaranteed by the Directive are envisaged and adequately implemented in the Italian criminal judicial system. The right to be presumed innocent in general All participants described the presumption of innocence as a milestone of the Italian judicial system. As per the practical implementation of this principle, judicial authorities – including judges and prosecutors – and police officers reported that the most effective way to implement it is being impartial and deliver evidence-based accusations and decisions. Criminal lawyers reported never questioning their clients’ innocence and trying to carry on the best legal defence they can, presenting witnesses and evidence in favour of the defendants. The participants mentioned several elements compromising in practice the presumption of innocence of the defendant: previous convictions and ethnic origins/nationality were the elements that participants commented on the most. The presumption of innocence of the defendant can also be compromised by the personal biases and prejudices of judicial authorities deciding the case. According to some of the participants, judges are compelled to be impartial, but they still are human beings with their own personal ideas and prejudices. One of the greatest challenges for the effective implementation of the presumption of innocence therefore is for judicial authorities to be aware of the risk entailed by personal prejudices and try, as much as possible, to decide the case on grounds of the available evidence and witnesses. Public references to guilt The public prosecutor is the authority legally in charge of selecting the information concerning investigations and judicial cases that need to be provided to the media. The aim of disclosing information to the media is to provide correct and selected information on judicial cases of public interest, as in the case of investigations involving public figures or concerning severe criminal offences. According to police officers, providing information to the media can also be useful to convey a
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