Research

The research conducted by the Department for Criminal Law and Criminology encompasses both basic and applied research. It covers not only the entire spectrum of Austrian criminal law but also all areas of criminal procedure, issues related to the correctional system and criminology, as well as current issues in police law. By combining normative and empirical research, security-related phenomena and processes are examined in depth. Furthermore, specific research priorities are captured by four research centers: the ALES Research Centre for Police and Judicial Sciences, the Research Centre for Legal Psychology, the Research Centre for Law and Institutional Economics, and the Centre for Economic and Financial Criminal Law.

The research conducted by the Department for Criminal Law and Criminology is characterized by a strong connection to the practical aspects of criminal prosecution and criminal defence. Current phenomena and challenges—such as issues related to digitalization and the use of AI, as well as the internationalization of criminal prosecution—are of particular interest for the Department's research.

The Department for Criminal Law and Criminology provides ongoing support to lawmakers on reform projects, initiates such reform processes itself, and prepares them for implementation in practice. To this end, members of the Department regularly participate in ministerial working groups and parliamentary inquiries and provide well-founded opinions on draft legislation. Regular discussions with representatives from the field help, on the one hand, to review and evaluate reforms and, on the other, identify areas where further reform is needed.