European Society of Criminology
The Society has established nine working groups:
Thematic working group on juvenile justice (Chair:
Josine Junger-Tas) jungertas@xs4all.nl
The first meeting of this working
group took place at the Conference of the European
Society of Criminology in Helsinki in August, 2003.
The reports produced by the members of this group
led to the publication in 2006 of an International
Handbook of Juvenile Justice edited by Josine Junger-Tas
and Scott H. Decker (published by Springer). You will
find below the preface of the book as well as the
first two pages of each chapter.
The group invites national Juvenile
justice experts to present papers on the situation
in their own countries, answering if possible the
following four essential questions:
- What are the main policies in your country
in terms of the prevention of crime, the treatment
of young offenders, and the respect of children’s
and young people’s procedural and individual rights?
- Have there been in the last 1520 years any
specific trends in these policies?
- What is known about the practical outcomes
of the present policies, both concerning the effective
reduction of delinquency and the respect of children’s
rights?
- Does your country have policies as well as
evidence based programmes to make prevention
and interventions more effective and individual
rights better respected?
Juvenile justice experts willing to make a contribution
to the working group, please contact Jungertas@xs4all.nl.
International Handbook of Juvenile Justice (Josine
Junger-Tas and Scott H. Decker, Eds., Dordrecht: Springer,
2006)
If you want more information on this book, please
visit:
http://www.springer.com/east/home/generic/search/results?
SGWID=5-40109-22-107951447-0
ESC members with research interests in quantitative
criminology are invited to join the newly formed European
Quantitative Criminology (EQC) working group.
Apart from defining a pool of European criminologists
with quantitative orientation and promoting communication
among them, the EQC working group's shape and objectives
are open for discussion. Possible functions include
organizing quantitative criminology or research methods
panel sessions at ESC conferences or holding one-day
EQC workshops, establishing cross-national quantitative
criminology research ties to aid in competing for
European Commission funds, offering a student award
for the best quantitative paper submitted to the ESC
meetings, and drafting guidelines for quantitative
research methods courses, etc.
If you would like to join, please send your name,
position, affiliation, and (optional) quantitative
research specialization/expertise to andromachi.tseloni@ntu.ac.uk.
Your views and suggestions for short and longer-term
functions of the EQC group are greatly welcome. Please
include the group's abbreviation, 'EQC', in the subject
field of your e-mail message.
ESC European University Curriculum Working Group
(Chair: Gorazd Meko) gorazd.mesko@fvv.uni-mb.si
The purpose of the working group is to foster high
quality European university programmes in criminology
as well as innovative teaching in this area.
The basic idea is to find a consensus on the substance
and processes of teaching (census, standards) while
"the challenges" concentrate on the results
of teaching (communication with policy and public).
Both aspects seem very important. However I would
suggest formulating something like goals of the working
group to initiate a discourse and to seek consensus/understanding
each other on issues of substance of teaching (place
for critical criminology, analysis of on-going processes
in politics and public), teaching process (innovation,
transfer of knowledge, mobility), and the results
of teaching (public and professional awareness, influence
over decision making processes). In some countries,
a very important issue is raising of understanding
of public and private sectors for which criminological
knowledge is important and useful, it is also important
to start a discussion on labour market for criminologists.
Due to a greater transferability of knowledge, mobility
and exchange of academicians in the field of criminology
plans of the working group for the period 2006-2009
are learning about programmes in criminology, criminal
justice, crime prevention and community safety, victimology,
etc.; obtaining research grants for creation of a
European Higher Education Directory consisting under
and post-graduate programmes in the mentioned areas,
institutions and professors (teachers) of criminology.
Everyone who is willing to participate in developing
the quality of teaching and contributing to the development
of standards of criminological programmes in Europe
is very welcome.
Members:
Marc Coester
Algimantas Cepas
Aleksandras Dobrininas
Chris Eskridge
Gorazd Meko
New members welcome!
Do not hesitate to contact me at gorazd.mesko@fvv.uni-mb.si
European Governance of Public Safety Research Network
- EUGPSRN (Co-Chairs: Gordon Hughes and Adam Edwards)
hughesgh@cardiff.ac.uk
- edwardsa2@cardiff.ac.uk
Origins and Progress to date
This Network was established at the second conference
of the European Society of Criminology (ESC) in Toledo
following a special panel of researchers examining crime
control and safety strategies in European localities.
It was at this panel that the group of researchers discussed
the origins of the network and the conceptual arguments
behind its broad focus on the 'governance' (rather than
simply government) of 'public safety' (as opposed to
the relatively narrow concern with crime control) specifically
in 'Europe' (as opposed to generically).
The Network organised an inaugural meeting and colloquium
at the Open University in February 2002 on cultures
of safety in Europe, sponsored by the journal Social
and Legal Studies. This inaugural meeting established
the broad aim and objectives of the Network and the
initial organisation of the Network. Since then the
Network has organised special panels at the Helsinki,
Amsterdam and Cracow conferences. We will be orgnaising
two panels at Tubingen. Members of the Network have
also produced a special edition of the Community
Safety Journal (vol 3, no.1, 2004) on the politics
of prevention and safety in Europe, and also a further
special edition of the sage journal Theoretical
Criminology (vol 9, no. 3, 2005 see http://tcr.sagepub.com)
on public safety and comparative criminology in Europe,
based on the members of the Network's research. Members
of the Network are also involved in the production
and writing of the 2006 edition of the Jahrbuch
for Rechts- und Kriminalsoziologie on insecurities
in European cities and strategies of governance and
in the running of the UK-based ESRC funded seminar
series on Community Policing in an Age of Diversity
. Some of the initial findings from both the work
on the Jahrbuch and ESRC Community Policing research
seminar series will be discussed in panels at the
Tubingen conference.
It is planned that the Tubingen conference -hopefully
via a Network's membership meeting if it programmed
by the conference organisers- will give the members
of the Network the opportunity to plan the next stage
of its development and also its specific contribution
to the forthcoming ESC conference in Bologna 2007.
For more information on the work of the group, see
the ESC newsletter July 2006 (available on the ESC
website under Newsletter or contact the co-chairs
directly (hughesgh@cardiff.ac.uk
- edwardsa2@cardiff.ac.uk)
Aim of the Network
To facilitate comparative research into current
developments in the governance of public safety occurring
in European localities.
The aim of the Network expresses the belief in the
distinctiveness of European criminology but also recognises
the provisional character of this belief and the need
for systematic comparative research to corroborate
or revise this proposition.
Objectives
A number of specific objectives have been established
in support of this aim:
- To examine the models of social explanation employed
within policies for public safety
- To question the transferability of these policies
across different social contexts
- To explore the (un)intended consequences of these
policies
- To consider the ethics and democratic accountability
of these policies
- To evaluate alternative criteria for evaluating
these policies
Publications
'The politics of prevention in Europe' Special issue
of the Coummunity Safety Journal, 2004, 3(1).
The
Governance of Safety in Europe: Special Issue of the
Journal Theoretical Criminology , 2005,
9(3).
Jahrbuch for Rechts- und Kriminalsoziologie
(forthcoming 2006, Vienna), edited by Rene van Swaaniningen
and Klaus Sassen.
Membership
of the Network
The constitution of the Network remains quite informal.
The Network be potentially open to all members of
the ESC who share a research interest in its aim
and objectives.
Current members of the ESC who belong to this
working group include the following colleagues (with
emails attached. Members please let the Network
know if incorrect):
Please note we are aware that many countries and regions
in Europe are not represented in the Network. Please
contact us if you wish to join the working group.
European Postgraduate and
Early Stage Researchers Working Group (Chair: Jenny
Johnstone)
j.johnstone@law.gla.ac.uk
Origins and Progress to Date
The initial meeting of the European Postgraduate
Researchers Group took place at the European Society
of Criminology (ESC) Conference in Tubingen. The ESC,
the Centre for Criminological Research, University
of Sheffield, and the Scottish Centre for Crime and
Justice Research, University of Glasgow support the
Working Group. The Working Group is primarily aimed
at doctoral and post-doctoral researchers in the early
stages of their career (up to 7 years research experience).
The Group provides the opportunity for members to
present their research, and provides information on
publishing work, pursuing academic/research careers,
applying for research funding and working collaboratively.
It is an interdisciplinary group, with members from
various departments from across Europe who are involved
in criminological research, for example law and sociological
studies. The Group is currently in the process of
developing a web page detailing the work that members
are currently engaged in, and providing a forum for
dissemination of information useful to members and
potential new members.
Aim
The
aim of the Working Group is to provide a forum to
discuss, develop and collaborate on new and innovative
criminal justice research with other early stage researchers
and lead/senior academics on a European level.
Objectives
- Promote the dissemination of information on the
research projects undertaken and the methodologies
employed - by doctoral and post-doctoral researchers
across Europe who are in the early stages of their
careers.
- Establish a communication network between members
(e-mail distribution list, dedicated webpage, a
regular newsletter)
- Organize sessions at the annual ESC meetings
which provide for
° 1) the opportunity for early stage and
postgraduate researchers to present their work.
° 2) benefiting from the experience of Senior
Academics through sessions on 'Getting Published'
or 'Putting Together Research Proposals'.
- To consider further methods of providing tips,
advice, support and dissemination of current projects
for example through the web-site.
- Gathering support and promoting pan-European collaborations.
Membership
The Group is currently coordinated by:
Jenny Johnstone, Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice
Research, University of Glasgow, j.johnstone@law.gla.ac.uk
Jaime Waters, Centre for Criminological Research,
University of Sheffield,
j.waters@sheffield.ac.uk
Matthew Hall, Centre for Criminological Research,
University of Sheffield,
m.p.hall@sheffield.ac.uk
Coralie Fiori-Khayat, Faculte Libre de Droit et ECO,
coralie.fiori-khayat@orange.fr
or direction@formation-droit-cfk.fr
Melanie Jane Wellsmith, University College London,
Jill Dando Institute,
m.wellsmith@ucl.ac.uk
Members
Members are doctoral and post-doctoral researchers
in the early stages of their career (up to 7 years
research experience).
Associate Members
Associate members will be Senior Academics who have
experience of leading research projects and who would
like to offer their support to the Group. Professor
Joanna Shapland and Professor Michele Burman are currently
Associate Members of the Group.
Joining the group
All ESC-members who would like to be part of this
group, either as Members or Associate Members are
invited to join. Please contact either Lisa Burns
at the The Centre for Criminological Research, University
of Sheffield, Crookesmoor Building, Conduit Road,
Sheffield, S10 1FL UK. E-mail: l.k.burns@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)114 222 6859 or Jenny Johnstone
at j.johnstone@law.gla.ac.uk
Eastern European Criminology (Chair: Louise Shelley
& Beata Gruszczynska)
For information, please contact: lshelle@american.edu
and b.gruszczynska@uw.edu.pl
European Development and Life-course Criminology
(EDLC) (Chair: Arjan Blokland & Paul Nieuwbeerta)
Origins
The development of antisocial behaviour within individuals'
lives is the focal point of Developmental and Life-course
Criminology (DLC), an exciting and growing research
area in criminology. Much of the knowledge base on
the longitudinal patterning of delinquency and crime
over the life span has emerged from using data from
the United States, Great Britain and more recently
Australia. Yet, developmental patterns result from
the complex interplay between individual and contextual
factors, including societal and legal institutions.
Since these institutions differ cross-nationally,
developmental patterns may do so accordingly. DLC-research
from other - European - countries is thus inexplicable
to gain detailed knowledge on criminal careers and
test developmental criminological theories. Fortunately,
longitudinal projects on the development of antisocial
behaviour are underway in various European countries
and the number of European researchers on DLC-topics
is substantial and growing. In order to stimulate
DLC-research in Europe and to promote contact between
the various European research groups working on DLC-issues,
we have established the European Developmental
and Life-course Criminology working group. We
would like to invite ESC members involved in longitudinal
studies on the development of delinquency and crime
to combine their expertise and join the working group.
Aim
To facilitate research on developmental and life course
criminology and maximize international dissemination
of DLC-research results.
Objectives
A number of specific objectives in support of this aim
have been established:
promote communication between European DLC-researchers
organize thematic DLC-sessions at the annual ESC
meetings
establish cross-national research ties and promote
international collaboration on DLC-topics
offer a 'best European paper' award for outstanding
research in the DLC-field
Membership
The working group is chaired by and its activities
coordinated by Arjan Blokland and Paul Nieuwbeerta.
All ESC-members involved in longitudinal research
projects are invited to join. If you would like to
join, please send your name, position, affiliation,
and a description of the research project you are
working on to edlc.esc@nscr.nl .
Contact address
Dr. mr. A.A.J. (Arjan) Blokland / Prof. Dr. P. (Paul)
Nieuwbeerta
NSCR (Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime
and Law Enforcement)
P.O.Box 792 - 2300 AT Leiden
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)71 - 527 8527 (secr.)
Fax: +31 (0)71 - 527 8537
Email: edlc.esc@nscr.nl
European Homicide Research (EHR) (Chair: Paul
Nieuwbeerta)
Origins
Homicide is one of the most dramatic and tragic offences.
It has very high priority in research, public opinion,
policy, and prevention in the European nations. Unfortunately,
it is one of the most difficult crimes to be studied
due to the low frequency and the high variability
of events.
Moreover, most statistical sources on homicide that
exist in European countries are hardly cross-nationally
comparable. Regrettably to date our knowledge and
information on homicide in Europe is rather limited.
Therefore, it is of importance to stimulate the study
of homicide in each of the different European countries.
Furthermore, there is a need to describe differences
in homicide patterns across European countries and
examine various explanations for the (cross-national)
differences in these patterns. Violent crimes result
from the complex interplay between individual and
contextual factors, including societal and legal institutions.
Since these institutions differ cross-nationally,
homicide patterns may do so accordingly. Cross-national
research thus is inexplicable to gain detailed knowledge
on homicide and test criminological theories on violence.
In order to stimulate homicide research in Europe
and to promote contact between the various European
researchers working on national homicide studies,
we have established the European Homicide Research
working group. Fortunately, homicide research
projects are underway in various European countries
and the number of European homicide researchers is
substantial and growing. We would like to invite the
ESC members involved in these homicide studies to
combine their expertise and join the working group.
Aim
To facilitate research on homicide in Europe and maximize
international dissemination of homicide research results.
Objectives
A number of specific objectives in support of this
aim have been established:
promote communication between European homicide
researchers
organize thematic homicide sessions at the annual
ESC meetings
establish cross-national research ties and promote
international collaboration on homicide research
offer a 'best European paper' award for outstanding
research in the area of homicide research
Membership
The working group is chaired by and its activities
coordinated by Paul Nieuwbeerta. All ESC-members involved
in homicide research projects are invited to join.
If you would like to join, please send your name,
position, affiliation, and a description of the research
project you are working on to ehr.esc@nscr.nl.
Contact address
Prof. Dr. P. (Paul) Nieuwbeerta
NSCR (Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime
and Law Enforcement)
P.O.Box 792 - 2300 AT Leiden
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)71 - 527 8527 (secr.)
Fax: +31 (0)71 - 527 8537
Email:ehr.esc@nscr.nl
ESC Working Group on Community Sanctions
Acting Chair: Fergus McNeill (University
of Glasgow)
++44 (0)141 330 5075
F.McNeill@sccjr.ac.uk
Members:
Kristel Beyens, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Jose Cid, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Elena Larrauri, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Fergus McNeill, University of Glasgow
Shadd Maruna, Queen's University of Belfast
Mike Nellis, University of Strathclyde
Peter Raynor, Swansea University
Gwen Robinson, University of Sheffield
Sonja Snacken, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Kirsten Svenson, Lunds Universitet
Cyrus Tata, University of Strathclyde
Thomas Ugelvik, Universitetet i Oslo
Pamela Ugwudike, Swansea University
This working group (formed in December 2007) exists
to encourage networking, foster discussion, stimulate
empirical research, enable theoretical development
and encourage critical and comparative work on community
sanctions in European jurisdictions. Its specific
interests and concerns include:
1. The historical development of community-based
criminal justice sanctions in European jurisdictions,
how community sanctions in European jurisdictions
are currently configured (both as legal orders and
as related penal practices) and whether, in what
ways and to what extent they are subject to significant
ongoing reconfiguration or transformation
2. The emergence and significance of new
forms of community sanction, such as compulsory
drug treatment and electronic monitoring
3. The effectiveness of these sanctions and
their impacts:
a. on sentencing
b. on offenders
c. on victims
d. on communities
e. on other stakeholders
4. Public attitudes to and media representations
of such measures
The group will be formally launched at the ESC
conference in Edinburgh in September 2008 through
a series of themed sessions addressing the four
issues identified above.
ESC members interested in finding out more about
the group or in joining it, should contact Fergus
McNeill at F.McNeill@sccjr.ac.uk
Eurogang Network (Contact Person: Frank
Van Gemert)
ESC members with an interest in developing an understanding
of the scope, causes, nature and consequences of
gangs through systematic, comparative and multi-method
research are welcome to join the Eurogang Network.
The Network was formed in the late 90s and since
then has held 9 international workshops, developed
a set of protocols for comparative research, and
organized the publication of several edited volumes.
In spring of 2008 the Network became affiliated
with the ESC as a working group.
Our objectives are:
1)To develop conceptual and methodological
research tools for carrying out comparative gang research
2) To build a body of knowledge about the scopes,
causes, nature and control of gangs across Europe
3) To foster a constructive and amicable dialogue
between different theoretical, disciplinary and national
research traditions in the study of the relationship
between the group aspects of youth transitions and
offending
4) To offer support, mentoring, and training
to scholars interested in the comparative study of
gangs and generally assist European scholars interested
in the study of gangs
5) To facilitate transfer of knowledge from
academic research to the policy and practitioner community
in the area of youth street gangs
6) To develop specific funded research collaborations
between our members.
Membership remains informal and everybody that
shares our aims is welcome. Those interested in
active participation should email Frank Van Gemert
(f.vangemert@rechten.vu.nl)
for an initial contact. You will also need to contact
Professor Kerner (hans-juergen.kerner@uni-tuebingen.de)
for inclusion in the Eurogang distribution list.
The Eurogang Network is governed through a Steering
Committee composed of:
Frank Weerman
Frank Van Gemert
Juanjo Medina
Judith Aldridge
Finn-Aage Esbensen
Cheryl Maxson
For more details you can visit our website (http://www.umsl.edu/~ccj/eurogang/euroganghome.htm).
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