Police and social change in Italy: empirical perspectives

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

The relationship between law enforcement agencies and society has emerged as a critical issue in contemporary Italy. This panel convenes multidisciplinary empirical research that investigates key aspects of police practices and oversight mechanisms—from concerns over remilitarization to challenges in accountability, trust, and responsiveness to social change. The contributions examine the evolution of recruitment and training practices within Italian police forces, evaluate the effectiveness of disciplinary and judicial mechanisms in ensuring accountability, and explore police interactions with minority communities, including those with migration backgrounds, as well as responses to gender-based violence and LGBTQ+ victimization. Drawing on insights from sociology, law, and criminology, the panel offers a comparative perspective that highlights the inherent tensions between security imperatives, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights. Collectively, these studies underscore the complexity of contemporary policing in Italy and the urgent need for reform.

Subtopic

• Topic 5: Social Control and Criminal Justice / Policing and Law enforcement (Policing WG)

Chair

• Giuseppe Campesi, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’

Individual Presentations

• A Military Order? Recruitment and Training of Police Forces After the Reform (1981–2021) - Michele Di Giorgio, University of Bari; Giuseppe Campesi, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’

• Controlling force? A Study on the Accountability of the Italian Police Forces - Carlo Caprioglio, University of Bari; Valerio Pascali, University of Bari; Giuseppe Campesi, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’

• Law Enforcement Accountability in Europe: ECtHR Case Law, the Italian Framework, and Paths for Reform - Ilaria Boiano, University of Florence; Giancarlo Lenieri, University of Florence

• Does Migration Background Matter? Trust in the Police Among Adolescents in an Italian Neighborhood - Laura Squillace, University of Milan; Roberto Cornelli, University of Milan Bicocca

• Exploring police responses to gender-based violence and LGBTQ+ victimization in Italy - Stefania Crocitti, University of Bologna; Veronica Marchio, assistant professor; Rossella Selmini, University of Bologna