The judicial treatment of sex offenders: old limits, new opportunities

Abstract

Over the years, the discipline of sexual crimes has undergone numerous legislative interventions aimed at changing its scope and stiffening its penalties. It starts from the law 15 February 96, n. 66 up to the red code, law n.69, 19 July 2019, which came into force in August 2019. The law in question promises to activate a fast, effective and preferential lane to complaints of sexual offenses for the benefit of the victims, at the same time ensuring speedy investigations also through the adoption of precautionary and preventive interventions, obviously respecting the fundamental principles guaranteed by the Constitution. Moreover, also providing treatment opportunities for abusers, even sexual abusers. Here, the authors will analyze in particular the characteristics of the atonement of the penalty both in prison terms and in alternative measures concerning the perpetrators of sexual crimes, the latter marked by the changes envisaged in terms of treatment. Alongside new treatment opportunities for sex offenders, there are difficulties in accessing and programming them.