Criminal defence, white-collar crime, regulatory investigations and extradition matters for foreigners.
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Yes — in all EU countries you have the right to legal representation from the moment of arrest. You also have the right to an interpreter if you do not speak the local language.
Contact an English-speaking criminal defence lawyer immediately. Do not answer police questions without a lawyer present.
Browse our verified directory of law firms across Italy's major cities. All listed firms offer English-language legal services to expats and foreign nationals.
Find My Lawyer in 60 SecondsOffence categories, court hierarchy, detainee rights and legal aid — under the Codice Penale (CP) and Codice di Procedura Penale (CPP).
| Category | Court | Max Sentence | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contravvenzioni | Giudice di Pace / Tribunale | Up to 2 years arrest (arresto); fines (ammenda) | Traffic violations, minor public order, building code breaches |
| Delitti (minor — correctionali) | Tribunale monocratico | Up to 10 years | Theft (furto), fraud (truffa), minor assault (lesioni) |
| Delitti (major) | Tribunale collegiale (3 judges) | Up to life (ergastolo) | Murder (omicidio), robbery (rapina), tax fraud (>€150k) |
| Delitti di criminalità organizzata | Tribunale + DNA/DDA | Life | Mafia-type associations (CP art. 416-bis), drug trafficking |
| Court | Jurisdiction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Giudice di Pace | Minor criminal matters; max 3 months detention | Lay judge; criminal competence under D.Lgs. 274/2000 |
| Tribunale (monocratico) | Delitti up to 10 years | Single judge; GUP (preliminary) + dibattimento |
| Tribunale (collegiale) | Serious delitti over 10 years | 3 professional judges; no jury system in Italy |
| Corte d'Assise | Crimes punishable by life imprisonment (omicidio, rape with aggravating) | 2 professional judges + 6 lay jurors (giudici popolari) |
| Corte d'Appello / Corte d'Assise d'Appello | Second instance appeals | Reviews law and fact; can increase sentence |
| Corte di Cassazione | Final appeal (law only) | No retrial of facts; avvocato cassazionista required |
| Tribunale dei Ministri | Ministers, President of the Council | Art. 96 Costituzione; authorisation of Parliament required |
| Right | Detail | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Right to a defence lawyer | Immediately upon arrest; difensore di fiducia (chosen) or d'ufficio (duty). Must be informed before any questioning. | CPP artt. 96–97, 386 |
| Right to silence | Cannot be compelled to answer questions; silence cannot be used against you | CPP art. 64; Costituzione art. 27 |
| Right to interpreter | Free interpreter if you do not speak Italian; translation of key procedural documents | CPP art. 143; D.Lgs. 32/2014 |
| Maximum pre-trial detention | Up to 96 hours before GIP validation hearing (udienza di convalida) | CPP art. 386; Costituzione art. 13 |
| Consular notification | Foreign nationals: right to notify consulate of home country (Vienna Convention art. 36) | Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 |
| Right to bail (libertà provvisoria) | GIP may impose: no detention, house arrest, curfew, or custody depending on risk; detention only if flight/evidence tampering/reoffending risk | CPP artt. 272–315 |
Italy provides state-funded legal defence (difensore d'ufficio reimbursed by state, or patrocinio a spese dello stato) for those below the income threshold. The 2025 threshold is ISEE €11,746.68 (updated annually). Applies to both Italian citizens and legally resident foreigners.
Sources: Codice Penale (RD 1398/1930) artt. 17–39 (offences); Codice di Procedura Penale (DPR 447/1988) artt. 61–68, 272–315, 386; D.Lgs. 32/2014 (interpreter rights); Vienna Convention 1963 art. 36; DPR 115/2002 (patrocinio a spese dello stato — ISEE threshold).
