Repentant Terrorist Legislation - A Preliminary Analysis of Problems and Results in Italy (From Outthinking the Terrorist - An International Challenge - Proceedings, P 57-61, 1985 - See NCJ-98704)

• NCJ Number: 98710
• Author(s): F Ferracuti
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-98704.

Annotation

Italy's experience with legislation that provided a means for terrorists to dissociate themselves from their groups is examined.

Abstract

The law arose from the recognition of the need for a flexible judicial means of promoting exits from terrorism. Two laws, which were enacted as temporary emergency measures, have expired. They implied a large reduction of the penalty if terrorists collaborated with the police and judicial authorities or a smaller reduction if they dissociated themselves from the terrorist group. Collaboration most often took the form of denouncing former comrades and providing evidence against them. The laws produced tactical success in that terrorist incidents have sharply declined. At least 40 percent of the terrorists currently imprisoned are estimated to be 'repented' or 'dissociated.' A major problem in the application of the laws has been the media's use of the word 'repented,' a word not found in the laws, which focus on actions. A followup study of American political activists who abandoned their activities indicated that their beliefs did not change, but that they channeled their energies into legitimate careers reflecting their beliefs. Although activists are not terrorists, the cooption of terrorists into the system would save the expense of prisons, defuse terrorism by allowing dissent, and rechannel strong energies and commitments. Twenty-eight references are listed.