The Center for Criminological Research in Chemnitz has been around for about a year now. Since then, several projects have been running on the subject of crime. For example: How do people actually perceive criminals?
Chemnitz (dpa/sn) – What do people think about crime in Saxony and Germany and how do they perceive criminals? Scientists at the Saxony Center for Criminological Research in Chemnitz have been dealing with questions relating to crime for around a year. Institute director Frank Asbrock drew a positive balance. “I’m very, very happy with that because we managed to set up this research center. It’s a very dedicated team,” said the professor of social psychology to the German Press Agency.
In Saxony and also partly beyond, there is great interest in the research of the center, which is funded by the Saxon Ministry of Justice. The team is currently working on several projects that started in August or September – including, for example, a representative survey on the perception of crime and security. In this study, 5,000 people from Germany will be asked several times over a period of two and a half years, among other things, about how they perceive criminals – and which points influence these attitudes over time.
There is still little scientific knowledge in Germany on this aspect, said Asbrock. “This is an important field of research: How do we as a society actually deal with people who have not been part of our society for a while?” The way of thinking is often driven by stereotypes.
Initial findings have already shown in general: although crime is declining according to police crime statistics, many respondents think that it is increasing. “There seems to be a difference between what’s actually happening – at least what’s being registered – and what people perceive,” Asbrock explained. Results from the first survey wave of the extensive study should come in August.
Another project deals with the question of how prisoners in Saxon prisons (JVA) get information and how the media can contribute to this. Access like this is important in order to reintegrate offenders into society after they have been imprisoned. “The idea that we have of it outside of prisons is certainly different from reality,” said the scientist. The team has already collected further research ideas for the coming year – but the current projects should first be completed.
The center at Chemnitz University of Technology started work in August 2021. The institute, which is run by a non-profit association, conducts research on all areas of criminology and criminal policy. According to Asbrock, an important point is to communicate the knowledge gained to the public in an understandable way.