Overview of using of insanity in mafia trials

• In Event: Mind of the Mafia

Abstract

The use of insanity as a tool to obtain justice benefits represents a quite frequent strategy in mafia trials.
In Italy several mafia trials – ranging from Camorra trials in ‘80s and ‘90s to Maxi-Trials coordinated by G. Falcone and P. Borsellino - have included criminals simulating mental disorders.
Several reasons have been listed for using insanity in mafia trials including: the lack of unique biological basis of mental disorders, the lack of specific diagnostic tools for confirming the presence of a full-blow mental disorder, and the poor reliability of some psychiatric diagnoses.
Furthermore, the use of insanity in mafia trials guarantees judicial advantages such as sentence reductions, suspension of judgement, and releases from prison. In this presentation it will be provided an overview of using insanity in mafia trials and it will highlight the need for improving the training curricula of psychiatrists in forensic issues.

Authors

• Gaia Sampogna, University of Campania Vanvitelli

• Corrado De Rosa, Department of Mental Health Avellino, Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Vanvitelli