Gratteri: "The law on drug addicts in prison is a pardon in disguise."

Cosenza – "On August 21st, a law will go into effect, which no one is talking about, stipulating that any drug addict serving up to eight years in prison can enter a therapeutic community. This is a pardon in disguise."

This was the thrust of Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, who spoke last night in Casali del Manco, in the Cosenza area, during the meeting "Legality as a driver of growth: the future of Calabria."

The magistrate expressed strong concerns about the structure of recent justice reforms, arguing that the regulatory changes risk complicating the work of investigators and the courts.

"Every time you touch something, pieces fall apart."

Gratteri recalled that in recent months he had already urged against proceeding with further reforms. "Every time you touch something, you dismantle pieces," he observed.

In his speech, the prosecutor also highlighted the new procedures for arresting drug dealers, particularly criticizing the timeframes and requirements set forth in the legislation.

"During the referendum, those who voted 'yes' said that with a 'no' vote, drug dealers would be free," he stated. "Today, this government has made it mandatory for a drug dealer to be arrested five days in advance, questioned, and then the judge issues the warrant."

"We need to explain justice to people."

For Gratteri, one of the key issues also concerns the relationship between the judiciary and citizens. The prosecutor emphasized the need to use understandable language, avoiding the use of exclusively technical jargon.

"When I talk to people, I give lots of examples, because citizens need to be able to understand," he explained.

According to Gratteri, it was precisely the ability to communicate directly that contributed to the referendum result: "We won the referendum because we explained things in non-technical-legal language."

Hence the invitation to colleagues to leave the conference rooms and engage more with citizens in the places of everyday life.

Criticism of the government's reforms

During the meeting, the prosecutor expressed a particularly harsh judgment on the executive's reform efforts.

"Of all the reforms this government has made," he said, "I would only preserve the ability to investigate, intercept, and arrest hackers. I would repeal the rest and start over in good faith, revising the penal code, the code of criminal procedure, and the judiciary."

A clear position, accompanied by the request to intervene first and foremost on the overall organization of justice.

«Merger the small courts»

For Gratteri, the issue of judicial geography represents one of the main critical issues of the system.

"We cannot think of the justice system as a byproduct," he stressed, highlighting the operational difficulties of courts with reduced staff.

"There are courts with only a handful of judges who can't cope, and to arrest one person, three investigating judges are needed, which aren't available in small courts," he added.

The solution suggested by the prosecutor is a reorganization of the distribution of judicial offices, merging the smaller courts and strengthening their staff.

"There are around 250 magistrates working in various ministries or commissions, doing bureaucratic work," Gratteri concluded. "Let's get them back to writing sentences and get the judicial system back on track."