NCJ Number
191728
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: Autumn 2001 Pages: 301-313
Date Published
2001
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article looks at criminology in the individual countries of Europe including research resources, international cooperation, and professional activity.
Abstract
A questionnaire, sent by email and fax, was sent during the period of 2000 to 2001 to informants in 34 countries inquiring on the state of criminology within that country. The main aim was to provide an overview of Europe and not to concentrate too much on individuals or national topics. Twenty-six questionnaires were returned and presented here anonymously. Except for some countries, there are criminological institutes or units throughout Europe. Topics of criminological research included juvenile delinquency, police research, and treatment of offenders. The existence of criminological libraries and databases was difficult to trace because not everyone was aware of the existence of specialized criminological libraries. Questions such as whether criminological research is part of European cooperation projects, or whether comparative research is being conducted, or whether the country participates in a European network, were difficult to answer precisely. Criminological training forms part of the national education and therefore there were differences between European countries. Twenty respondents reported that there is a national society of criminologists in their country, although some have only been established recently. Most countries have a journal or newsletter in the language(s) of their country, sometimes related to the national society of criminology of that country. The state of European criminology is difficult to distinguish, and more like a patchwork of national orientations and language divisions. But on the whole there are possibilities for growth, both for communications and for European cooperation. 3 tables, 11 references