NCJ Number
73147
Journal
Polizia Moderna Volume: 32 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1980) Pages: 29-36
Date Published
1980
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The provisions of Italy's 1979 antiterrorism law are described and interpreted. The new law broadens the definition of terrorist crime to include membership in terrorist organizations and broadens police authority to deal with terrorist incidents.
Abstract
A new concept is introduced into Italian criminal law -- that of the conspiracy to perform terrorist acts or to undermine the 'democratic order.' Whoever forms or directs such an organization can be sentenced to 7 to 15 years in prison, and membership is punishable by 4 to 8 years. Strong inducements are provided to would-be terrorists to sabotage the efforts of their colleagues and to turn State's evidence by exempting them from punishment for their prior participation. Police efforts to prevent terrorist crime are strengthened by the provision that allows for a 48-hour preventive detention of persons suspected of preparing to commit a crime. Moreover, police are authorized to block off buildings and entire city blocks in their attempts to apprehend suspected terrorists. To impede financial transactions in preparation for or resulting from criminal acts, the new law mandates the reporting by banks of all transactions of 20,000,000 lire and over.