“Outstanding location for scientific research into the causes and effects of crime”
Taking stock of one year of criminological research in Chemnitz – Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V., an affiliated institute of Chemnitz University of Technology and the first independent research institution for criminology in East Germany, presented current results and showed lines of development.
On November 22, 2022, the Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V. (ZKFS), an affiliated institute of Chemnitz University of Technology and the first independent research institution for criminology in East Germany, took stock of the development and research activities of its first year of existence. Katja Meier, Saxon State Minister of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality, Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology, and Knut Kunze, Mayor for Law, Security and Environmental Protection of the City of Chemnitz, took part in the event and gave welcoming speeches. Prof. Dr. Frank Asbrock, Director of the ZKFS and holder of the Chair of Social Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology, gave an overview of the activities of the ZKFS.
The focus of his presentation included information on the current results of the nationwide and representative survey of 5,000 citizens on the perception of crime and criminals. Frank Asbrock and Jennifer Führer, Deputy Director of the ZKFS, also provided insights into further research projects.
Accordingly, the researchers would like to complete the current projects “Evaluation of the House of Juvenile Justice” and “The Penal System and the Media: Total Institutions in the Mass Media Society” in the coming year.
For the project “Panel on Perceptions of Crime and Offenders“, three further survey waves are planned in addition to the two already completed. For this reason, this project is to be continued until 2024 and completed this year. In addition, further projects are to be implemented in the coming year in cooperation with Chemnitz University of Technology and practice partners. According to Asbrock and Führer, planning is currently underway. In terms of content, the three main topics of the ZKFS – “Violence and Radicalization”, “Stigmatization and Perception” and the “Justice System” – will also be the focus here.
In addition, the ZKFS researchers presented further insights into their research on several posters. These included the topics of “Fear of crime”, “Conspiracy mentality”, “Trust in institutions”, “Stereotypes about offenders”, “Victimization” and the topics of “Juvenile delinquency” and “Prisons in Saxony”.
Katja Meier, Saxon State Minister of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality
“I am very pleased that we established the ZKFS in Chemnitz more than a year ago as an outstanding location for scientific research into the causes and effects of crime. Since then, the work of the ZKFS has helped us to shape legal policy measures based on current research that are free of irrational fears of crime and distorted images of criminal justice and the prison system. The outstanding team led by Prof. Dr. Asbrock has succeeded in closing a major gap: the gap between conventional criminological research – which plays only a very minor role in public perception – and the general media portrayal of crime, criminal justice and the prison system. Particularly in the area of criminal law, which is often driven by sentiment and symbolic politics, this is an achievement that has and will continue to develop its relevance far beyond Saxony. I would like to thank all those who have made these successes possible by working here at the ZKFS for their work to date and wish them continued success in this important task.”
Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier, Rector of the TU Chemnitz
“The ZKFS is not only the only criminological research institute in Saxony, but also unique beyond Saxony’s borders. It fills a significant gap in the German research landscape, addresses central political and social issues with extremely high practical relevance and therefore requires long-term consolidation and support from the Free State of Saxony.”
Knut Kunze, Mayor for Law, Safety and Environmental Protection of the City of Chemnitz
“The range of research topics has grown at an impressive rate. It’s very good that we have such an institute in Chemnitz. We look forward to further good cooperation.”
Prof. Dr. Frank Asbrock, Director of the Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V.
“We see scientific research at the ZKFS as an important contribution to the social debate on crime and prevention and intervention. Through in-depth research, networking with practitioners and dialog with politicians and citizens, we want to continue to make a contribution to this.”
Background: Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V.
The ZKFS has been an affiliated institute of Chemnitz University of Technology since December 2021, making it the first social science institution to receive this status. The ZKFS conducts basic and practice-oriented criminological research with a social science focus and contributes to a fact-based perception of crime through its research. To this end, it is essential to continuously collect data on the development of crime and how it is perceived by the general population and in public discourse.
Outlook: Podcast Advent calendar on criminology
What is a dark field? What is a substitute custodial sentence? What is crime prevention? These are just some of the questions that the Center for Criminological Research Saxony e. V. will be answering in a podcast Advent calendar from December 1, 2022. The 24 short contributions on criminology will be published on the ZKFS Instagram channel during the Advent season. This podcast is a form of science communication that is intended to appeal to as many interested citizens as possible.
