The program focuses on two essential fault lines in criminal law, which are only seemingly distinct from each other: namely, the relationship between criminal law and criminal policy, and the problems of interpretation and application of criminal law. Therefore, the course will cover, in relation to the first line: the relationship between criminal law and social consensus; the principle of effectiveness; and the analysis of models of criminal policy (liberal, authoritarian, totalitarian, and communitarian models). Regarding the second line of investigation, a privileged observatory for the problems of interpretation will be the verification of the robustness of criminal typicity through the analysis of problematic cases.

For attending students, the texts will be communicated during class and published on Moodle. Among these, two main study tools will be the textbooks: C.E. Paliero (ed.), F. Consulich, G. Mannozzi, C. Piergallini, C. Perini, M. Scoletta, C. Sotis, Il Sistema penale, first edition (2024), Turin, currently in press. G. Marinucci, E. Dolcini, G. Gatta, Manual of Criminal Law, in the edition used for the preparation of the basic criminal law exam.

For non-attending students: D. Pulitanò (ed.) Criminal Law. Special Part. Vol. I, Criminal Protection of the Person, third edition, 2019, Turin, Giappicchelli, pp. 1-337. Anyone wishing to prepare for the exam using another textbook or for specific needs should arrange the exam by sending an email to the instructor.

For everyone, it is also absolutely essential to constantly refer, both in class and during individual study, to the penal code, as well as to the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).