imputata

Imputata is the feminine form of imputato, a term used in Italian criminal procedure to designate a female person who has been formally charged with a crime. The status appears in the course of the process after an investigation if the prosecutor decides to proceed with charges; the male equivalent is imputato. During the preliminary phase the person is often referred to as indagata (investigated), and if an indictment is issued, the person becomes imputata and a trial may be scheduled.

The rights and procedural position of an imputata are defined by the Code of Criminal Procedure. An imputata has the right to legal assistance, to access the file and evidence presented by the prosecution, and to participate in the proceedings with the opportunity to present defenses. The label is a formal status indicating that there is a charge to be proven in court, not a determination of guilt.

Etymology-wise, imputata derives from imputare, meaning to attribute or ascribe blame. The term is used primarily in legal texts and media coverage to indicate the current procedural position of a female person facing criminal charges. It is one among several statuses in Italian criminal procedure, which also include indagato, testimone, vittima, and condannato. The ultimate outcome of the case—acquittal, condenna, archiviazione, or non luogo a procedere—determines the final legal result, rather than the initial label of imputata.