Tra diritto e vittimologia: il ruolo del linguaggio nella pratica e nella ricerca

Abstract

Victimological research constitutes a particularly suitable domain for examining the role of language. It enables us to assess the negative impact of linguistic barriers on victims participating in criminal proceedings, while also highlighting how the attitudes of professionals who engage with them can be both beneficial and biased. Restorative justice processes, firmly grounded in empirical research and sound professional practice, offer a promising framework for facilitating the meaningful participation of individuals affected by criminal matters, issues that, prior to being legal cases, are fundamentally human and social experiences. Among the multiple dimensions of these experiences, the emotional aspect plays a central role. For crime victims, who are continually seeking reparative expressions, the language of care can serve as the medium that illuminates the path toward justice.