Legal Definitions - delatio

Delatio refers to a formal accusation or the provision of information, particularly within legal or official contexts, stemming from Roman and civil law traditions.

It encompasses both the act of making a formal charge against someone and the act of supplying details or evidence that could lead to an official investigation or legal proceedings.

• Example 1: Formal Accusation to Authorities

  Imagine a homeowner who observes their neighbor consistently violating a local noise ordinance by hosting loud parties late into the night. The homeowner then submits a formal written complaint to the municipal police department, detailing the dates and times of the disturbances. This formal complaint, serving as an accusation against the neighbor for breaching local regulations, would be considered a delatio.

• Example 2: Providing Information for Investigation

  Consider a scenario where a former employee discovers evidence of significant environmental pollution being deliberately concealed by their previous company. They gather internal reports and photographs, then present this detailed information to a government environmental protection agency. The comprehensive evidence and accompanying statement provided by the employee constitute a delatio, as it is information intended to prompt an official investigation and potential legal action.

• Example 3: Citizen Report in a Civil Law System

  In a country that operates under a civil law system, a concerned citizen might formally report to the public prosecutor's office that a local government official is allegedly misusing public funds for personal gain, providing specific instances and dates. This formal report, which offers information and implicitly accuses the official of corruption, exemplifies a delatio because it is a direct communication of wrongdoing to an authority with the power to act.