RSPSC/I

Language:

Italian. However, lectures in English and seminars with foreign professors are possible.
Textbooks:

ATTENDING STUDENTS
Notes and materials provided during lectures.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For an overview of the current legal framework regarding preventive measures, it is recommended to consult:G. Insolera – T. Guerini, Diritto penale e criminalità organizzata, Giappichelli, Turin, 2022 (3rd ed.), LIMITED to Chapter V (pp. 224–306).
Students who have not yet taken the "Criminal Investigation Law" exam are advised to review the fundamental principles and structure of criminal proceedings by studying:A. Scalfati (ed.), Manuale di diritto processuale penale, Giappichelli, Turin, 2025 (5th ed.), LIMITED to pp. 1–66.In any case, this is a useful reference for all students as a general review.
Students wishing to gain a general understanding of cognitive biases may read:D. Kahneman, Pensieri lenti e veloci, in the Italian translation published by Mondadori, 2025.Reading the first two parts of the book (pp. 23–264) is strongly recommended, as it will be particularly helpful in preparing for the exam.
The teacher will make available to non-attending students the same materials distributed to attending students during the lectures.
Learning objectives:

MAIN KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED - Students will gain an understanding of the principles and rules governing the assessment of social dangerousness. They will also develop a general awareness of the issues related to cognitive errors in such assessments, along with the consequences that may result. Finally, they will become familiar with the legal remedies available to address and correct these types of errors.
MAIN SKILLS ACQUIRED - Students will develop a critical method for analyzing issues related to social dangerousness. This method will serve both as a tool for interpreting legal structures and institutions and as a means for addressing and resolving moderately complex practical cases.
Prerequisite:

A basic knowledge of the general principles of the Constitution is required, particularly those concerning rights and freedoms.
If needed, review or in-depth seminars on foundational legal concepts that may help enhance the understanding of the course topics will be organized.
Teaching methods:

The course consists of 32 hours of instruction, combining traditional lectures with interactive sessions. Students will be actively involved, following the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, in the analysis of case law and practical scenarios. The integration of frontal teaching with learning-by-doing will enable students to acquire the knowledge and develop the skills outlined in the course objectives.
For non-attending students, the instructor is available—upon request—to organize group study sessions, review meetings, and opportunities for further in-depth learning.
Exam type:

ATTENDING STUDENTS
The exam for attending students will consist of a written paper (maximum 30,000 characters, including spaces) on a topic related to the course, to be agreed upon with the teacher. The paper will be graded on a 30-point scale, based on the following criteria:

Relevance to the course topics (0–6 points)

Accuracy of the content presented (0–6 points)

Formal correctness and linguistic precision (0–6 points)

Ability to synthesize, establish connections, and engage in independent analysis (0–6 points)

Formal structure, use of bibliographic and case law references (0–6 points)

The paper must be submitted to the teacher by the end of the lecture period.
An additional up to 2 bonus points may be awarded for participation in a reporting/deepening activity related to the conference on cognitive bias and criminal adjudication, scheduled for January 2026. The instructions for this optional activity will be provided by the teacher to interested students.
Students who are not satisfied with the grade received for their paper may opt to take a supplementary oral exam during one of the official exam sessions.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students will take an oral exam, consisting of two questions of increasing difficulty, based on the assigned course materials.
The exam will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Knowledge of content

Ability to synthesize and establish conceptual connections

Knowledge, understanding, and use of specific legal terminology
Sostenibilità:
Further information:

The teacher is available to supervise students in the preparation of their master’s thesis on Crime and Preventive Measures.The thesis will focus on topics related to social dangerousness, the investigation thereof, and the challenges involved in collecting evidence to support its assessment.
The teahcer holds office hours for students and thesis candidates as indicated on the Department’s website.

For the current academic year, the course will focus on exploring cognitive errors in the assessment of social dangerousness. It will examine how preventive measures function as legal responses to contexts deemed socially dangerous. The application of such measures, in fact, entails a judgment of dangerousness concerning individuals or situations, which requires a thorough investigation of the elements that justify it.
Cognitive biases – particularly reliance and confirmation biases – as well as “simplified” cognitive schemes, can lead to erroneous assessments, potentially resulting in an undue restriction of individual freedoms.

Social Dangerousness Between Law and Non-Legal Sciences (2 hours)Assessing Social Dangerousness: Structure and Involved Actors – Biases and Heuristics in the Assessment – Formation of Erroneous Judgments – Applicable Preventive Measures and Their Consequences – Remedies Against Faulty Assessments (16 hours)The Relationship Between the Assessment of Social Dangerousness and Another Bias-Prone Evaluation: The Determination of the Facts (6 hours)A Peculiar Application of Social Dangerousness: The Socially Dangerous Enterprise and Its Links to Economic Organized Crime (8 hours)