Pre-trial Detention Measures and Reclassification of Offence: The Supreme Court's Guidelines in Judgment No. 10861 of 2025

The Italian judicial system, particularly the criminal justice system, is a complex mechanism where each component, from the preliminary investigation phase to the execution phase, must operate in perfect harmony and with strict adherence to procedural rules. Personal pre-trial detention measures represent one of the most delicate aspects of this system, as they directly affect the individual liberty of the suspect or the accused. Precisely on this front, the Supreme Court of Cassation, with Judgment No. 10861 of March 13, 2025 (filed on March 18, 2025), has provided an important clarification that strengthens procedural guarantees and more precisely outlines the duties of the Review Court (Tribunale del Riesame) in cases of legal reclassification of the offence.

The Crucial Role of the Review Court and District Competence

In the landscape of criminal law, personal pre-trial detention measures – such as custody in prison or house arrest – can be ordered by the Judge for Preliminary Investigations (GIP) when there are serious indications of guilt and specific pre-trial detention needs. Against these decisions, the suspect has the right to appeal to the Review Court, a collegial body responsible for verifying the lawfulness and validity of the pre-trial detention order.

A fundamental aspect, often a source of complexity, concerns the territorial and functional competence of the judge. Article 51, paragraph 3-bis, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for example, grants competence for certain offences (such as organised crime or terrorism) to the GIP of the court in the district's capital. This is a "district" competence, designed to concentrate complex investigations and ensure greater investigative effectiveness.

The judgment in question, issued by the Second Criminal Section under the presidency of A. P. and with M. T. M. as rapporteur, focuses precisely on the delicate balance between the legal reclassification of the offence by the Review Court and the consequences on the competence of the GIP who issued the measure.

The Supreme Court's Ruling and Its Meaning

The heart of the Supreme Court's decision is encapsulated in the following ruling:

In matters of personal pre-trial detention measures, the review court that legally reclassifies the offence, excluding its attribution to any of the criminal categories indicated in art. 51, paragraph 3-bis, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, even if only due to the exclusion of an aggravating circumstance, is required to declare the incompetence of the judge for preliminary investigations of the court in the district where the competent judge is located, with the consequent obligation to verify, pursuant to art. 291, paragraph 2, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the existence of the conditions for the adoption of the initial measure, retaining the power to annul it, if such verification has a negative outcome, or to proceed in accordance with art. 27 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the different case where it finds the urgency of even just one of the identified pre-trial detention needs.

This ruling clarifies a principle of fundamental importance: if the Review Court, in assessing the correctness of the pre-trial detention measure, modifies the legal classification of the offence originally charged, and this modification leads to the exclusion that the offence falls within those of district competence (provided for by art. 51, paragraph 3-bis of the Code of Criminal Procedure), then the Court cannot limit itself to validating or annulling the measure. Instead, it must take a further and crucial step: declare the incompetence of the district GIP who issued the order.

This occurs, for example, if an aggravating circumstance that was decisive for district competence is excluded. Once incompetence is declared, the Review Court has the duty to:

Verify the existence of the conditions for the adoption of the pre-trial detention measure, pursuant to Article 291, paragraph 2, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as if it were the competent judge to issue it for the first time.
Annul the measure if this verification has a negative outcome, i.e., if the conditions do not exist.
Otherwise, proceed according to Article 27 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (which governs territorial competence in general) if it finds the urgency of one or more pre-trial detention needs, possibly issuing a new measure.

This decision by the Supreme Court, which annulled without referral the measure issued by the Catania Court of Liberty against the accused G. G., underscores the need for rigorous control not only on the existence of the prerequisites for the measure but also on the correct identification of the competent judge, an essential element for the lawfulness of the entire proceeding.

Practical Implications and Protection of Due Process

Judgment No. 10861/2025 is not a mere technical clarification but a compass for legal professionals. Its implications are profound:

Guarantee of the Natural Judge: It ensures that the suspect is always judged by the judge established by law, as enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution, and that pre-trial detention measures are ordered by a GIP with the correct competence.
Strengthening of the Review Court: It expands the scope of action of the Review Court, giving it an even more incisive guarantee role in controlling the procedural and substantive correctness of pre-trial detention orders.
Impact on Defence: It provides lawyers with an additional tool to challenge pre-trial detention measures, not only on the merits but also on the grounds of competence, should the reclassification of the offence alter it.

This orientation is part of an already established line of case law, as evidenced by references to consistent precedents (e.g., No. 32956 of 2022) and decisions of the United Sections (No. 19214 of 2020), consolidating a fundamental principle of legality and procedural correctness.

Conclusions: A Beacon for Pre-trial Justice

The ruling of the Supreme Court of Cassation No. 10861 of 2025 represents an essential reference point in matters of personal pre-trial detention measures and judicial competence. It strongly reiterates that adherence to procedural rules is not mere formalism but the lifeblood of a fair and just trial, capable of protecting the fundamental rights of the individual, primarily personal liberty (Art. 13 of the Constitution). For lawyers, judges, and legal scholars, this judgment offers clear guidance on how to manage the complex dynamics related to the reclassification of an offence and the consequent verification of competence, contributing to strengthening legal certainty and trust in the judicial system.

Адвокатське бюро Б'януччі

Ми постійно стежимо за змінами в законодавстві та судовій практиці, пропонуючи актуальний аналіз та інноваційні рішення. Ми ділимося розвитком права, щоб сприяти більш усвідомленій правовій культурі.

Pre-trial Detention Measures and Reclassification of Offence: The Supreme Court's Guidelines in Judgment No. 10861 of 2025

The Crucial Role of the Review Court and District Competence

The Supreme Court's Ruling and Its Meaning

Practical Implications and Protection of Due Process

Conclusions: A Beacon for Pre-trial Justice

Адвокатське бюро Б'януччі

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