Criminal Law and Criminology
The research and teaching activities of our department focus on criminal law, criminal procedural law and criminology within the Dutch and European context. In addition to the substantive criminal and procedural law courses offered through the Dutch and European Law School, we provide a wide range of courses at master level. Our international staff originates from a variety of disciplines including law, criminology and forensic psychology, and comprises both academics and criminal justice practitioners.
Education
Education and teaching at the department include a variety of topics related to the theoretical and practical application of criminal law and criminology. Our approach to teaching is problem based, and courses are offered in both Dutch and English. Our teaching staff is closely involved with the unique Master’s Programme Forensics, Criminology and Law, which offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of crime for national and international students who wish to pursue a career within criminal justice.
Research
Research at the department is interdisciplinary and covers the fields of criminal law, criminology, psychology, neurosciences and forensics. Our main area of interest is examining how criminal justice systems and implemented and how they resonate at both, the societal and individual level. While research on substantive and procedural criminal law is oriented towards the European and international context, the research conducted within criminology focuses on the nature, extent and impact of different forms of crime. Research is carried out at both national and international level, and is embedded within the Maastricht Institute for Criminal Sciences.