JusCrim leads the way in criminal law scholarship within JusGov. Our researchers consistently undertake seminal research that tackles the most pressing issues relating to crime and punishment, examining the roots of criminal behaviour, the impact it has on society, and the proportionality and effectiveness of legal measures to counter it. Devoted to conducting research in the field of applied legal sciences, in particular Criminal and Procedural Law and Criminology, our researchers come from a wide spectrum of backgrounds such as Law, Psychology, and the Social Sciences. JusCrim focuses on crime as a matter of fact with its normative and legal ramifications, targeting issues of effectiveness and criminal justice while prioritising the following key aspects: prevention, policing, and security; legal processes and procedural issues; crimes, victims, and punishments; and the boundaries of the criminal justice system.

By concentrating on domestic and foreign environments, especially those involving Portuguese-speaking countries, our job is to extend our research into multifaceted realities, investigating crime from a holistic and interdisciplinary angle as a significant, social web of phenomena full of consequences. This Group is driven by JusGov’s high scientific standards in ensuring the highest quality of training for both junior and senior students and professionals, as well as in the organisation of world-class events and open-access publications, whether we are dealing with the use of invasive technological means of justice, predictive policing involving big data, matters related to memory and communication in criminal justice and its updating in response to emerging trends in crime, concerns about criminal motivation and penalties, victim studies and restorative justice, or other critical issues related to criminal justice worldwide.

The team throws its weight behind more humane and effective criminal justice systems capable of resulting in safer and more just social environments for people everywhere, promoting change in the global context, tackling the difficult interaction between the law and society, and participating in the battle against all kinds of crime and discriminatory policies and practices, all the while emphasising the key role of ethical thinking and behaviour in the delivery of criminal justice and the right of all people, bar none, to be treated with respect and equanimity.