《刑法》第 572 条规定对家庭内任何虐待儿童的行为处以监禁。在意大利法律中，虐待指“任何形式的身心虐待，任何可能造成身体或精神上的虚弱或任何形式屈从的行为”以及“成人或同一家庭内的人对儿童的一切形式骚扰”。当虐待造成身体伤害或死亡时，刑罚更为严重，并取决于是否有加重处罚情节。除了对虐待者的刑事制裁外，民法中还有一系列保护受虐儿童的措施。在根据《刑法》第 572 条提起诉讼时，公诉人需通知具有属地管辖权的青少年法院，并确保儿童得到社会服务机构的协助(《刑法》第 609 条之十)。青少年法院可通过发布《刑法》第 342 条之二规定的保护令，命令虐待者远离儿童，或在必要时把儿童带走(《刑法》第 333 条最后一段)。
Article 572 of the Criminal Code punishes with imprisonment any ill-treatment of children within the family. In Italian law ill-treatment means “any form of physical or psychological abuse, any behaviour likely to result in a state of physical or spiritual prostration or any form of submission” and “all forms of harassment of a child by an adult or a person belonging to the same household”. The penalties are more severe when the ill-treatment results in physical injury or death, and depending on the presence of aggravating circumstances. In addition to the criminal sanctions against abusers, there is a whole range of measures in civil law to protect children who are victims of abuse. When bringing proceedings under Article 572 of the Criminal Code, the Public Prosecutor is required to inform the Youth Court that has territorial jurisdiction and to ensure that the child concerned is assisted by the social services (Article 609decies of the Criminal Code). The Youth Court may order the abuser to stay away by means of the protection orders provided for in Article 342bis of the Civil Code, or may have the child taken away, if necessary (last paragraph of Article 333 of the Civil Code).