Indagini

Indagini is the Italian term for investigations or inquiries conducted to establish facts, causes, or responsibilities in a matter. It is the plural form of indagine; the verb indagare means to investigate or inquire. The word derives from Latin indagatio, related to the act of searching or probing.

In law and public administration, indagini have a formal meaning. In Italy, many criminal investigations are conducted by police authorities acting as polizia giudiziaria under the direction and supervision of the public prosecutor (pubblico ministero). A typical sequence includes the collection of evidence, interviews, analysis of documents and forensics, and the drafting of findings. In the criminal process, there is a stage known as indagini preliminari, when authorities gather information to determine whether there are grounds to suspect a crime and to decide whether to proceed with charges. Depending on the results, the case may be archived or proceed to trial.

Outside criminal law, indagini also occur in civil, administrative, and corporate contexts, such as internal investigations within organizations to uncover misconduct or noncompliance, or in journalism when reporting on complex issues. These investigations share common elements—planning, evidence gathering, verification, and reporting—but differ in legal framework, scope, and consequences.

Overall, indagini play a central role in fact-finding, accountability, and decision-making across legal, corporate, and media domains, balancing the pursuit of truth with the rights of individuals involved.