Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ) seminar series

'The Expansion of Criminal Law in Europe'

Dr. Clara Rigoni

Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration, University of Lausanne (Switzerland)

The increase in the use of criminal law is a characteristic of contemporary societies. Criminal law and policy have long become a key element of electoral campaigns, and the media have contributed to convey the idea that criminal law might represent the solution to most forms of injustice. Despite a stable decrease in violent crime in almost all European countries, politics of fear and insecurity continue to govern the public debate in most of them. Starting from this scenario, this talk will discuss the expansion of criminal law in Europe by using concrete examples from different legal systems. First, it will present the instruments used to expand the boundaries of criminal law, from criminalization to punishment, through other, intermediate steps. Second, it will examine the justifications used to legitimize this expansion, resting both on domestic and international commitments. Third, it will explore the main areas of criminal law which have been affected by this expansion, with special regard to the fields of immigration, organized crime and gender-based violence. Finally, the talk will offer some critical reflections regarding possible consequences of this expansion from a legal and a social perspective and some concerns around the effectiveness of an increase in the use of criminal law as a means of crime control.

Wednesday 27 November at 12:30pm in the Edgar Graham Room (MST.02.002)