Italy

University of Genoa, UNIGE, Italy

The Section of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry (former Institute of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry) is a public university institution founded in 1966 by Prof. Giacomo Canepa, past President of the International Society of Criminology, and is part of the Faculty of Medicine. Director is Prof. Tullio Bandini. The staff consists of 2 professors, 1 research assistant and 1 administrative person. The main activities are research, teaching and training. The faculty has a specialized criminological library (10000 volumes).

The Section organizes a post-graded course in Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry and a course in Forensic Psychology. Present research projects cover the fields of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice, drug and crime, community and crime, youth gangs, victim of crime, forensic psychiatry.
The Section conducted studies for the Italian Ministry of Justice, the National Council for Research (CNR), Region of Liguria, City of Genoa. Currently, the Section is conducting studies in collaboration with the Research Unit on Children's Psycho-Social Maladjustment (GRIP), the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, on youth gangs, social capital and crime, iatrogenic effects of juvenile justice.

The Section coordinated the Italian contribution for the International Self-reported Delinquency Study 1 and the International Self-reported Delinquency Study 2, involving 10 Italian Universities.
Responsible for the work on the AAA-PREVENT project is prof. Uberto GATTI.

Relevant publications:

  • Gatti U., Tremblay R.E. , Larocque D. (2003) Civic Community and Juvenile Delinquency: A Study of the Regions of Italy. The British Journal of Criminology, 43, pp. 22-40.
  • Gatti U., Angelini F., Marengo G., Melchiorre N., Sasso M. (2005) An Old-Fashioned Youth Gang in Genoa. In D. Scott and F. Weerman, European Street Gangs and Troublesome Youth Groups. New York, Alta Mira Press, pp. 51-80.
  • Gatti, U., Tremblay, R. E., Vitaro, F., & McDuff, P. (2005) Youth gangs, delinquency and drug use: A test of the selection, facilitation, and enhancement hypotheses. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46, 11, pp. 1178-1190.
  • Gatti, U., Tremblay, R. E., & Schadee, H. (2007) Civic community and violent behavior in Italy. Aggressive Behavior, vol. 33, 1, pp. 56-62.
  • Gatti U., Schadee H.M.A., & Tremblay R.E. (2007) Long-term effects of investment in infant health care on homicide in Italy. International Annals of Criminology, 45, 1-2, pp. 57-76.
  • Gatti, U., Tremblay, R. E., Vitaro, F. (in press) Iatrogenic Effect of Juvenile Justice. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.