New national research centre to advance knowledge on crime and justice

Crime and criminal justice policy are key issues in the Danish welfare state, yet Denmark has long lagged in terms of consolidated research capacity in this field. CCC aims to change that.

– We need deeper insights into how crime emerges, how it is addressed, and how the justice system operates in practice – both in Denmark and internationally, says Mikkel Jarle Christensen, one of the centre’s initiators.

– By pooling expertise in one centre, we can stimulate new research into what happens on Danish streets, in prisons, on digital platforms, and how Danish crime patterns connect to broader global trends.

An interdisciplinary powerhouse

CCC is the result of a collective effort by researchers across disciplines, bringing together more than 30 scholars from both the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Centre for Global Criminology, led by Professor Henrik Vigh, serves as a direct precursor to CCC and now constitutes the international dimension of the new centre – while the existing Criminological Observatory at the Faculty of Social Sciences is integrated as a core component.

Research at CCC spans a wide spectrum – from cybercrime and youth crime to environmental crime and transnational criminal networks. The centre also focuses on initiatives aimed at preventing these forms of crime and on penal enforcement.

– What makes the Copenhagen Centre for Criminology unique is its combination of legal and social science expertise in new ways. This enables us to generate knowledge on crime, punishment and justice that is both academically robust and practically relevant, says Vibeke Koushede, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Department of Anthropology has played a key role in shaping CCC through projects exploring the social dynamics and global connections of crime. With CCC’s establishment, this effort is significantly strengthened.

– A big thank you to Professor Henrik Vigh and the entire team at our own Centre for Global Criminology, who have been instrumental in making this happen, says Ayo Wahlberg, Head of the Department of Anthropology.

Societal impact and international collaboration

The Copenhagen Centre for Criminology will serve as a national and international hub for research, education and practice-oriented collaboration. Its researchers already lead major projects funded by the EU and the Independent Research Fund Denmark, and they work closely with universities such as Harvard, Cambridge and Toronto.

At the same time, CCC will maintain strong ties to practice through partnerships with the police, courts, prisons and social authorities. A dedicated Criminological Observatory will monitor current trends and ensure that research remains relevant to policymakers, practitioners and the public.

– We see a growing demand for knowledge about crime and the justice system – from students and from society at large. The Copenhagen Centre for Criminology will help produce groundbreaking insights that benefit both research and education, says Jacob Graff, Dean of the Faculty of Law.