Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology

The Willem Pompe Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology is the Institute of Criminal Law of Utrecht University’s Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance. Members of staff of this department provide education in the fields of criminal law, the law of criminal procedure, European and international criminal law, criminal law and human rights, criminology, and forensic psychiatry and psychology. They also carry out research in these fields.

Education

In the field of education the aim is to allow students to gain knowledge of and an insight into criminal procedure, criminology and related areas, as well as to challenge them to develop their own opinions thereon and to substantiate these viewpoints. In this respect, students are introduced to the results of research carried out by members of staff so that they can profit from the expertise which has been built up.

The internationalization of education is reflected in the subjects which are dealt with in the courses, the large choice of courses taught in English and the cooperation with foreign students within certain courses. In cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) the Willem Pompe Institute offers a LLM Specialisation International Law of Human Rights and Criminal Justice. In 2011 the Institute started with a new Master’s track in Global Criminology.

Research

The research which is carried out is fundamental and transboundary. Researchers participate in three research programmes:

Background

The Institute has a long history. In 1934 it was established as a Criminological Institute by the Utrecht Professor of Criminal (Procedural) Law Willem Pompe. From that time onwards members of staff from various disciplines have cooperated in connection with the Institute.

The Willem Pompe Institute is located at Boothstraat 6, a historic building in the centre of Utrecht. The Institute currently has around 50 staff members. They are divided among the Criminal Law, Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology sections.