criminal law

Criminal Law and Criminology

Continuing the 'All Souls' conversation: first thoughts on Israel/Gaza from a criminal justice scholar's perspective

What stories to tell from a criminal law perspective, when justice seems so far away?

Interdisciplinary Study of the Law

New legislation on online sexual crimes in the Netherlands: Decisive or doomed to become a dead letter?

According to the Minister of Justice and Safety Ferd Grapperhaus (CDA), the Dutch sex laws desperately need an update. In for a penny, in for a pound: new legislation has been proposed, evaluated and revised.

Interdisciplinary Study of the Law

From force to consent: a new definition of rape in the Netherlands

On International Women’s Day the Dutch Minister of Justice introduced a new Bill on sex crimes. Rape and sexual assault will no longer depend on force but on the absence of consent. Why the reform and what will it yield?

Criminal Law and Criminology

The appraisal of DNA evidence in criminal law

In recent years many initiatives have been taken to improve how criminal law judges interpret DNA evidence. How well is DNA evidence appraised in criminal law courts today?

Criminal Law and Criminology · Interdisciplinary Study of the Law

Living in a world of give and take

We tend to respond to the taking away behaviour of terrorists and criminals in general by taking away even more from them, and focus as a result on what we do not want in our world. Yet it is important to shift our focus to what we actually do want.

Supreme Court – not so supreme truth

Our esteemed Supreme Court “civilized” criminal evidence and proof concerning victims’ claims. Or: one more reason not to become a criminal defendant: you may really need to prove your innocence from now on.

Criminal Law and Criminology

The Robert M. case: multiple victims and sentencing

Breivik stands trial for killing 77 people; Robert M. for abusing 67 children. Cold numbers that make us speechless. In both cases, the accused are indicted for making many victims. Does it matter in sentencing? And how much?

Criminal Law and Criminology

Fairness in Dutch criminal procedure: a victims demand

How can it be that in Dutch criminal procedure the focus is only on the accused and not the victim? I argue that the introduction of the ‘fair trial’ ideal in the Dutch jurisdiction has been more than just problematic.

Criminal Law and Criminology

Wanted: Evidence for criminal case (any reasonable price accepted)

The Passage-proces is the first big public trial under the Dutch key witness regulations. The ongoing hustle between Peter la S. and the Public Prosecution Service perfectly illustrates the shortcomings of regulations concerning Dutch key witnesses.