Juvenile Offenders: Suspension of Trial and “Probationary Period”. A Study on Re-Educational Role of Social Service in Italy

The aim of this study is to investigate the institution of the “probationary period” for juvenile offenders in Italy, after the suspension of criminal proceedings. The aim of this alternative measure to detention is to re-educate and re- socialise minors who have entered the criminal circuit, avoiding traumatic contact with prison and the reiteration of criminal conduct. The data collection was carried out through the cooperation of the Italian Juvenile Service Offices and the Ministry of Justice. The statistical method used Mathlab R2020b made it possible to process data from 2010 to 2020 to quantify criminal conduct, types and specificity of offences committed by Italian and foreign minors (both male and female), as well as to verify the effectiveness of probation. The positive results exceed 80% and demonstrate the effectiveness of the “probationary period” instrument in the process of re-education and re-socialisation of juvenile offenders.