Research
The Chair's research focuses on the law of sanctions and enforcement (in particular the law on forensic psychiatry), the law of corporate sanctions including procedural aspects and criminological foundations (white-collar crime) as well as general crime prevention law. In addition, there is a focus on law-related evaluation research.
Göttingen Criminal Justice Lab
In cooperation with the judiciary, prisons, the forensic psychiatric facility and the police, we are organizing the “Göttingen Criminal Justice Lab” for the first time starting in the winter semester 2025/26. The aim of this event is to establish an ongoing dialog between practice and academia with the involvement of students in the sense of research-based teaching.
Research Group: Sports Criminology
A sports criminology research group was set up in 2024 to investigate interpersonal violence within high-performance sport. Further information
Current projects
The scope for decision-making by the prosecutor's office - A legal-dogmatic and factual analysis of the Opportunity Principle
Contact: Lena Kolkmeyer
Opportunity cessations are not an exception to the principle of legality in criminal proceedings that is rarely used. However, the application of Sections 153 et seq. StPO are accompanied by dogmatic and factual legal questions: in particular, which criteria lead to opportunity cessations. Legal terms such as “minor guilt” and “lack of public interest” allow for a great range of interpretation.
The project approaches the legal dogmatics and factual aspects of opportunity cessations. The significance of (political) influence through orders in accordance with Sections 146 and 147 GVG and the divergent cessation practices of the federal states will also be examined in more detail. Through the dual structure of legal dogmatic and empirical analysis, the project aims to offer not only scientific value, but also a practical framework for prosecutorial decisions.
Outpatient, day-care and community-based care in forensics - needs and legal implementation options
Contact: Larissa Landwehr
In general psychiatry, in addition to placement in closed psychiatric clinics, outpatient and day-care facilities as well as community-based care have been used for a long time. In contrast, forensic psychiatry still relies on centralized placement in closed and sometimes highly secure facilities. Forensic psychiatry is coming under increasing pressure due to long lengths of stay and sometimes considerable overcrowding. This is one of the reasons why the project is exploring the possibilities of further aligning forensic care with general psychiatry. In a first step, a needs analysis will be carried out with the help of expert interviews. In a second step, the project will shed light on legal implementation options and, in particular, examine the question of whether the introduction of open and community-based treatment concepts would be compatible with the current provisions of the law on disciplinary measures or whether there is a need for legal reform.
Corporations as Actors in International Criminal Law – A Criminological Analysis of Corporate Engagement in the Context of International Crimes
Contact: Poppea Patrick
Amid the growing interconnection of global markets, the role of private corporations in perpetrating the gravest human rights violations has increasingly come to the fore in international legal, criminal law, and societal debates. In this context the project examines the underlying drivers of corporate engagement in international crimes from a criminological perspective. Central to the inquiry is the question of which structural and political conditions, alongside internal organisational mechanisms, facilitate corporate involvement in state or non-state violence. To this end, historical and contemporary case constellations are analysed comparatively with reference to criminological and criminal law theories.
Prevention and management of delinquency among children under the age of criminal responsibility
Contact: Christina Rueß
The project aims to examine the existing challenges and opportunities in dealing with the delinquency of children under the age of criminal responsibility and to identify any need for improvement and reform. While there are repeated calls in legal policy for the age of criminal responsibility to be lowered in this context, the project deliberately chooses a broader approach and focuses on the entire (crime prevention) care system. One focus is on the interplay between the different legal systems - such as child and youth welfare law, family law and juvenile criminal law - as well as the role of the institutions involved.
Experiences, everyday working life and safety in probation services (EbASiB). A criminological study among probation officers
Contact: Elena Schaffeld
In a decision dated 20 June 2023, the Federal Constitutional Court once again emphasized the importance of a resocialization concept based on the latest scientific findings. It must be ensured that the purposes of criminal sanctions and, in particular, the reintegration of offenders are secured with the necessary personnel and financial resources. Probation services have a central role to play here.
The survey is conducted in cooperation with the DBH Fachverband für Soziale Arbeit, Strafrecht und Kriminalpolitik e.V. (Association for Social Work, Criminal Law and Criminal Policy).
Dealing with the searching, seizure, and exploitation of smartphones – An investigation of legal dogmatics and legal reality
Contact: Luisa Tregner
With the tremendous technological changes over the past 20 years, the issue arises as to whether the legal foundations for seizures are still appropriate and constitutional. With its increasing popularity since the mid-2000s, the smartphone has developed into a digital all-purpose device and is a prime example of this technological progress. As an everyday companion, it is capable of recording circumstances relevant to a crime at any time and can be considered significant evidence. At the same time, however, it also collects a large amount of data about the entire private life of its users. A nationwide survey of public prosecutors' offices is to be conducted to find out how smartphones are actually handled in terms of searching, seizure, and exploitation, in order to draw conclusions about a possible need for regulatory reform.