Restorative Justice in Criminal Cases: The Italian Reform

Through legislative decree 150/2022, restorative justice has properly entered the Italian penal system. the introduction of a specific regulation was motivated by the necessity to comply with explicit obligations assumed by Italy under European law. After reviewing the notion, models, and application mechanisms of restorative justice, and the reasons for a progressive implemen tation of it in Europe, the author analyses the new model of complementarity between RJ and the penal system in the Italian jurisdiction, focusing on scenarios that may be opened up be cause of this important reform.