Legal Design, Criminal Law and Social Empowerment

Abstract

This contribution explores the concept of citizen empowerment within the context of Italian criminal law, utilising graphical tools to visualize legal information. Building on legal design literature, the authors, experts in Communication Design and Comparative Law, examine how to make the Italian criminal justice system more accessible and supportive, helping individuals recognize the crime of ‘mafia association,’ understand its mechanisms and impact, and effectively navigate legal channels to report, challenge, and protect themselves from such influence. The starting point is the analysis of two case studies, which have been deepened during the Communication and Graphic Design Laboratory led by Luciano Perondi, with the collaboration of Andrea Lancia, and the participation of Barbara Pasa and LIBERA’s lawyer Marco Lombardo. The case studies under scrutiny pertain to the criminal act of ‘mafia association of Camorra-style’ in the Venetian area (the so-called Casalesi di Eraclea trial) and in the Padua area (the so-called Aspide trial), in the northeastern part of Italy.

In the context of Italian criminal law, the expression ‘mafia association’ denotes a particular offence involving participation or support for an organized criminal group that engages in activities such as intimidation, violence, or the exploitation of social influence. It is widespread in Italy, not only in the South, as a stereotypical view of our country would have us believe. The expression ‘mafia association’ can be related to groups such as the Sicilian Mafia (Cosa Nostra), the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta, among others. It has been demonstrated that the criminal enterprise extends beyond the commission of violent crimes, encompassing the provision of resources, connections, and other forms of assistance that serve to bolster the organizations’ capabilities. These case studies, covering numerous indictments, defendants, and complex socio-economic ties, reveal major gaps in communication within Italy’s criminal justice system. These include limited public understanding of mafia association trials and weak coordination among judicial actors. Effective communication is crucial in such cases, where lengthy proceedings, technical evidence, and broad social impact demand transparency and collaboration to sustain trust and legitimacy. In this light, the evaluation of how legal information is disseminated and understood becomes paramount. In order to determine the efficacy of communication tools for a broader public audience, it is necessary to consider expansion beyond the confines of the legal profession and institutional stakeholders. Such an expansion can foster greater awareness of the collective implications of criminal law, thereby empowering individuals to adopt a more proactive and preventive stance.