Mafia law gives Italian families right to break free from a life of crime
Italy has passed the 'free to choose' bill, which offers children and relatives of mafia members new identities and relocation assistance to escape criminal environments. The program aims to break the cycle of inter-generational recruitment within powerful clans like the 'Ndrangheta.
Why it matters
This legislation represents a significant shift in anti-mafia strategy by focusing on social rehabilitation and breaking hereditary criminal ties.
Police guard a mafia funeral in Sicily. Power is often handed down from father to son in Italian criminal families. Photograph: Alessandro Fucarini/ANSA/AFP/Getty Images Police guard a mafia funeral in Sicily. Power is often handed down from father to son in Italian criminal families. Photograph: Alessandro Fucarini/ANSA/AFP/Getty Images Mafia Mafia law gives Italian families right to break free from a life of crime Wives and children offered new identities to try to stop gangsters recruiting down the generations
Prefer the Guardian on Google Children and young adults raised in mafia families will be given a chance to break away from organised crime under new legislation in Italy that aims to stop the inter-generational recruitment of gangsters.
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