Violazione

Violazione is the Italian noun for violation, derived from violare, meaning to violate or infringe. In legal and everyday language, it denotes the act of breaking a law, rule, contract, or moral norm. The term covers a range of breaches, from minor administrative faults to serious criminal acts, and appears in common phrases such as violazione di domicilio (trespass) and violazione della privacy (privacy violation).

In legal systems, violations are categorized by the nature of the breach. Administrative offenses (illeciti amministrativi) are breaches of regulatory rules and usually carry fines or administrative sanctions. Crimes (reati) are more serious breaches of criminal law and require formal charges and adjudication in court. Civil law recognizes violations as breaches of obligations, such as breach of contract, or delict/tort, depending on the jurisdiction. Across jurisdictions, the central idea remains a failure to comply with a duty or standard established by law, contract, or policy.

Enforcement and procedures vary by offense and country. Administrative violations are typically handled by regulatory bodies with penalties like fines, warnings, or corrective actions. Criminal violations involve court proceedings, with protections such as presumption of innocence and the right to defense; penalties may include fines, imprisonment, probation, or restitution. In international law, violations of treaty obligations or customary international law can generate state responsibility and potential remedies, including sanctions or reparations.

Beyond legal use, violations concern breaches of privacy, rights, professional ethics, or social norms. The concept marks the boundary between permitted and prohibited conduct and underpins sanctions, remediation, and accountability across legal and social contexts.