PHENOMENON OF HOSTAGE-TAKING - THE ITALIAN EXPERIENCE (FROM HOSTAGE-TAKING - PROBLEMS OF PREVENTION AND CONTROL - MANAGEMENT TRAINING SEMINAR - FINAL REPORT, 1976, BY CRELINSTEN AND LABERGE-ALTMEJD - SEE NCJ-49367)

• NCJ Number: 49377
• Author(s): A FARIELLO
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Maryland; Universite de Montreal, Centre International de Criminologie Comparee
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF KIDNAPING IN ITALY ARE TREATED, WITH ATTENTION TO PARTICULAR CASES, AND THE TECHNIQUES OF POLICE INVESTIGATION AND SOME PROPOSED PREVENTIVE LEGISLATION ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

PIOR TO THE MID-1970'S KIDNAPING IN ITALY WAS CONSIDERED A TYPICAL CRIME OF THE MOUNTAINS OF SARDINIA. IN THE YEARS BETWEEN 1965 AND 1972, THERE WERE 50 CASES OF ABDUCTION IN SARDINIA, 13 IN CALABRIA, AND 8 IN SICILY. THE POLICE SOLVED 44 CASES AND ARRESTED 254 SUSPECTS. THE GENERAL TECHNIQUE USED BY THE KIDNAPPERS IS INDICATED. ABDUCTION IS VIEWED AS A CRIME THAT CAN BE EASILY ACCOMPLISHED, WHILE POLICE RESPONSE IS DIFFICULT DUE TO THE VERY NATURE OF THE CRIME. THE HEAVY INCREASE IN KIDNAPINGS IN 1975 IS BELIEVED TO REVEAL THAT HARSHER PENALTIES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THE CRIME, AND SO OTHER AVENUES FOR LEGISLATION HAVE BEEN PROPOSED. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE JURISDICTION FOR EACH CASE OF ABDUCTION BE GIVEN TO THE TRIBUNAL AT THE PLACE OF THE CRIME AND NOT TO THE COURT AT THE PLACE WHERE THE VICTIM WAS RELEASED. IN A RECENT CASE OF ABDUCTION, A MAGISTRATE IN MILAN ORDERED THE POLICE TO PROHIBIT THE PAYMENT OF THE RANSOM PRICE. THIS PRACTICE HAS LED TO A DECREASE IN KIDNAPINGS IN THAT REGION. THE SUCCESS OF THIS TACTIC HAS BROUGHT SUPPORT FOR THE REQUIRED ADOPTION OF THE PRACTICE OF 'FREEZING' THE FUNDS OF THE VICTIM'S FAMILY, SO THAT POTENTIAL OFFENDERS WOULD KNOW THAT NO MONEY COULD BE SECURED UNDER THIS POLICY. (RCB)