delazione

Delazione is the act of informing the competent authorities about the commission or suspected commission of a crime by another person. In Italian legal usage, the term designates the act of reporting to police or judiciary information about a crime, and it is typically carried out by a private individual, a victim, or a witness, whether orally or in writing. Delazione is a broad concept that can precede or accompany more formal steps in criminal procedure.

Delazione differs from denuncia and querela. Denuncia refers to a formal report to initiate an investigation, which may be filed by anyone and can trigger procedural measures without requiring the complainant’s ongoing involvement. Querela is a formal complaint by the offended party for offenses that require the victim’s initiative to prosecute. Thus, delazione can be an informal or initial reporting act, which may evolve into denuncia or other formal actions if the authorities deem it necessary.

Historically, the term has carried negative connotations in some contexts, reflecting the role of informers or betrayers. In modern law, attention is given to the reliability of information and to safeguards against false accusations; false denunciation (calunnia) is a criminal offense, and similar remedies apply where delazioni prove to be unfounded.

Etymology: delazione derives from Latin delatio, meaning the act of reporting or revealing. In contemporary usage, it remains a general label for the act of notifying authorities about suspected criminal activity. See also denuncia, querela, calunnia, testimone, istruttoria.