Criminal Policy

Thematic Orientation and Research Identity

Criminal justice policy represents a core research area within AGSKK. In this field, we examine, critically reflect on and contribute to the development of political, legal and institutional strategies addressing crime and social deviance. Our research approach combines empirical impact analysis with normative critique as well as contextual insights from political science and legal scholarship.

We understand criminal policy not as a technocratic toolkit, but as a societal negotiation process touching on fundamental questions of justice, security, legitimacy and democratic accountability. We are committed to a criminal policy practice that is evidence-informed, socially responsive and democratically grounded. Our work focuses not only on what is effective, but also on what is justified – and for whom.

Selected Research Priorities

Development of strategic concepts for security and justice sector institutions
Evaluation of criminal policy reforms at federal, state and municipal level
Impact assessment of criminal sanctions and sentencing mechanisms
Prevention policies at the intersection of social work, the judiciary and the police
Governance and crime control under political states of exception, such as pandemics or armed conflict

Methodological Approaches

Our research on criminal justice policy is based on an integrated methodological framework combining three pillars:

Normative and analytical legal and discourse analysis (including legislation, parliamentary debates, court decisions and media communication)
Empirical social research (quantitative and qualitative data on the impact, acceptance and practical implementation of policies)
Interactive participatory formats involving relevant stakeholders from politics, public administration, the judiciary and civil society

We regularly apply methods such as Delphi surveys, focus groups, strategic workshops, impact assessments and policy mapping. Our approach is systematic, theory-driven and interdisciplinary, positioned at the intersection of legal studies, social sciences and public administration.

Projects and Public Impact

AGSKK provides advisory expertise for legislative impact assessments and supports criminal policy reform processes at municipal, state and federal levels. Recently, we conducted a multi-method research project commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community on cooperation between police and civil society in countering right-wing extremism (“Connect”, 2022-2024). Based on more than 90 national and international expert interviews, systematic literature reviews, legal assessments and four specialist conferences, the project produced a comprehensive catalogue of recommendations addressing municipal, state and federal stakeholders.

Managing Director Prof. Dr. Dominic Kudlacek has also commented on key criminal policy issues in leading media outlets. In the ARD Tagesschau (2021), he argued for a stronger integration of education policy and prevention strategies.

In addition to the research contributions of the agency’s team, Prof. Kudlacek serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for several renowned academic journals in the field, including Monatsschrift für Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform and the European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research.

Services and Areas of Application

Our criminal policy expertise is directed at ministries, municipal bodies, parliamentary committees, NGOs, academic advisory boards and foundations. We provide:

Evaluation of laws, regulations and programmes in the fields of security and criminal justice
Accompanying research for criminal policy reform processes
Design and facilitation of participatory formats involving political, administrative and civil society stakeholders
Development of evidence-based policy briefs, expert opinions and discussion papers
Design and implementation of specialist criminal policy conferences and events
Advisory services on the normative and ethical implications of security and criminal justice policy

Our objective is to enrich criminal policy debates with empirically grounded, differentiated and practice-oriented perspectives and to contribute to a democratically accountable approach to social deviance and norm enforcement.