reato

Reato is a term used in many criminal law systems to denote a legally defined offense. In general, a reato is any conduct that is prohibited and punishable by law because it harms a protected value. The term originates from Latin reatus meaning guilt, related to reus, the accused.

An offense typically requires the convergence of several elements. The core is the fatto tipico, the concrete conduct described by the criminal statute. It must be illicit (antigiuridicità), meaning the conduct violates the law and is not justified by a reason such as necessity or self-defense. The offender must be legally imputable (imputabilità) and the act must be punishable (punibilità). In many systems, the crime can be committed intentionally (dolo) or through negligence (colpa), and it can be completed (reato consumato) or attempted (tentato).

Crimes are often classified by severity and by type, for instance as delitto (more serious offenses) or contravvenzione (less serious offenses) in some traditions, though terms and classifications vary by jurisdiction. The law may also impose aggravating or mitigating circumstances that affect the penalty.

Prosecution and liability require adherence to due process and the presumption of innocence. Defenses such as illegality, error, or justification can exclude the reato or reduce responsibility. Reato as a concept sits within broader criminal justice aims to regulate conduct, deter harm, and sanction wrongdoing while balancing individual rights.