The course aims to teach both attending and non-attending students how to construct correct and logical arguments on any topic, even complex ones, related to criminal procedural law. This objective will be pursued through different approaches depending on whether the student attends classes or not. Attending students will be guided in the reading of various sources (legislation, academic studies, and case law) within the broad and evolving framework of the digitalization of criminal proceedings. The aim is to develop their ability to systematize, summarize, and critically analyze the different sources in this field, also with the support of generative artificial intelligence. Non-attending students will be expected to achieve the same outcomes through the study and analysis of two different types of monographs.
Course Prerequisites
Students must have studied and passed the criminal procedural law exam. To test your own level of knowledge in the field, you may use the online self-evaluation tool, as soon as it becomes available.
Teaching Methods
With the exception of the first introductory lecture, all sessions will consist of a short lesson followed by students’ presentations on the assigned topic. These presentations will be followed by a class discussion and, in most cases, an evaluation of the outcomes by the other participants. For non-attending students, a set of open-ended questions will be provided on the online platform to allow them to assess their understanding.
Assessment Methods
Attending students will be assessed throughout the course. The feedback received on written assignments or in-class essays and discussions will form the basis for a brief final oral exam discussion. Non-attending students will be assessed in a final oral exam, during which they will be required to demonstrate their understanding of the materials studied and express critical reflections on it.
Contents
Attending students will engage with various aspects of digital investigations and digital evidence, supported by the open-access book “Investigations and Evidence in the Digital Society: Current Issues and Future Perspectives”, edited by Gabriella Di Paolo and Luca Pressacco, and published by the University of Trento. Relevant case law (both from higher and lower courts) will be added as appropriate. Non-attending students will cover the following topics, depending on the monographs chosen: principle of correlation or aspects related to constitutional review in criminal proceedings, on the one hand, and either principle of reasonable duration or predictive justice, on the other.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Course Materials For Attending Students: • Indagini e prove nella società digitale. Questioni attuali e prospettive future, edited by G. Di Paolo and L. Pressacco, Quaderni della Facoltà di Giurisprudenza, No. 95, 2025, University of Trento. ISBN: 978-88-5541-113-4, ISSN: 2284-2810. Available for free download (Open Access) from the IRIS research archive: https://iris.unitn.it/retrieve/0358c7b6-a663-411b-92dd-d1e78b382b91/QUAD95-2025_DiPaolo-Pressacco_IRIS.pdf For Non-Attending Students: One volume from the following: • Ruggieri, F., Il volto costituzionale del processo penale. Indagine giurisprudenziale alla ricerca di valori condivisi, Pacini Editore, 2021, ISBN: 978-88-3379-365-8 • Marcolini, S., Il principio di correlazione tra accusa e sentenza, Pacini Editore, 2018, ISBN: 978-88-6995-413-9 And one volume from the following: 1. Barone, G., Giustizia Predittiva e Certezza del Diritto, Pacini Editore, 2024, ISBN: 978-88-3379-752-6 2. Di Candia, T., La tartaruga giudiziaria penale e la vela dei riti alternativi: principio della ragionevole durata e statistica applicata, Giappichelli, 2024, ISBN: 9791221109061 Total: two monographs
