Annual report

 
Archive

REPORT

on the activities of the National Institute of Criminology (OKRI) in 2024

(Please find the final results of researches at "Research projects")

 

UTILISATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS

We devoted considerable attention to the utilisation of our research results in this reporting period, too. Areas for the utilisation of results include cooperation in the development of theories and the presentation of research results in educational activities (in training courses for trainee prosecutors and junior prosecutors, in university and college education and postgraduate courses etc.), as well as at conferences and other professional events. Our researchers have published in and worked as editors or reviewers for several professional journals. Their active involvement in scientific organisations is also of great importance. Our researchers who expressed their views in the media played an important role in informing the general public by presenting our results, approaches and opinions also in the course of the year under review as well.

1  Presentations

In 2024, researchers from the Institute delivered a total of 97 presentations at various conferences and professional forums. Of these presentations, 7 were delivered in a foreign language.
Requests to chair sections of conferences also indicate professional recognition and presume professional skills. In the reporting year, researchers from the Institute were requested to chair sections on 21 occasions.

2  Publications

During the reporting year, our researchers published altogether 54 publications, of which 6 were published in a foreign language. 2 of these were published abroad. The Institute has published 8 publications.
This year, OKRI’s researchers wrote 3 book chapters, and authored 22 studies published in academic journals. In addition, 11 papers were published in publications of the Institute, and 4 studies elsewhere (abstracts, websites other than the Institute’s etc.). Furthermore, our colleagues received requests to edit various professional publications and journals 8 times this year. It is increasingly common that some publications are not published in print but are only available online. It is therefore fortunate that the researchers of the Institute can also take advantage of the flexible publication opportunities provided by the internet.

3  Involvement in domestic and international professional cooperation and project tenders

3.1  Professional cooperation

– In response to an international invitation, we have joined the COST-action grant programme No. CA22128 ‘Establishing Networks to Implement the Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations’ (IMPLEMENDEZ), which was established to create networks to implement the principles on effective interviewing for investigations, as a Hungarian partner (in accordance with the legislation, and on the basis of the nomination of the contact point of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office).
– During the reporting period, we continued our involvement in the international project entitled “RECOVER – Crime Doesn’t Pay”, coordinated by Transcrime – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. This project is the first impact assessment of Regulation (EU) 2018/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 on the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders under substantive criminal law.
– During the reporting period, an agreement was also reached with the Institute of Criminological Research of Uzbekistan on future professional and scientific cooperation between the two institutions.
– An agreement was also reached with the Institute of Criminological Research of Uzbekistan on future professional and scientific cooperation between the two institutions during the reporting period.

3.2  Tenders

The implementation of our tender progressed according to plan during the reporting period.

Year of submission: 2022
Description of the project: ISF-2022-TF1-AG-THB
Title/subject: Identifying compaNies and Victims in the Exploitation phase to disRupt the financial business model of adult and child labour Trafficking (INVERT)
Parners:  Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan, Transcrime Research Centre – National Institute of Criminology

4  Involvement in professional organisations

Professional recognition of the Institute’s researchers is indicated by requests to participate in the work of various professional organisations and bodies, and effective contributions to them. Most researchers are members and/or officers of one or more Hungarian or international organisations having a profile associated with research topics.

In 2024, the Institute’s staff took part in the work of the following international professional bodies:
– Assotiation Internationale de Droit Pénal – member
– European Forum for Restorative Justice – advocate member
– European Society of Criminology – member
– European Sourcebook on Crime and Statistics – prosecution contact point
– Independent Academic Research Studies – member

5  Education

5.1  OKRI researchers provide regular training courses at the following higher education institutions:

• Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Department of Criminology
• Eötvös Loránd University Faculty of Political Science and Law, Doctoral School
• Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Institute of Criminal Sciences
• Matthias Corvinus Collegium Law School
• National University of Public Service, Faculty of Law Enforcement, Department of Criminology
• National University of Public Service, Faculty of Law Enforcement, Department of Criminal Law
• National University of Public Service, Doctoral School of Law
• Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Department of Substantive Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Sentencing
• Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
• Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Deák Ferenc Institute
• Széchenyi István University Deák Ferenc Faculty of Political Science and Law

5.2  Taught subjects, courses:

• Crimes and offenders (course)
• Criminal law
• Criminal protection of the environment
• Criminal psychology
• Criminal substantive law
• Criminology
• Criminology, Crime and Criminal Justice (ERASMUS Course of Department of Criminology)
• Environmental law
• International and domestic action against environmental crime
• Law enforcement priorities in the European Union (course)
• Persons in criminal proceedings (seminar)
• Practical criminology
• Relationship/Domestic violence
• Theoretical criminology
• Theory and practice of crime prevention
• Victimology
• Violence and crime

5.3  Prosecutor training activities

The Institute’s researchers were also involved in the training activities of the prosecution service during the reporting period: our Institute organized 2 professional-scientific conferences and 1 professional training in the framework of continuing education for credit points – attended by nearly 100 prosecutors – and our researchers also participated in the training of prosecution statisticians with 2 presentations.

6  Media appearances

According to our records, researchers from the Institute featured as experts in print and electronic media on a total of 38 registered occasions in 2024: they appeared in the media 6 times in the printed press, 5 times in the radio, 8 times on a television channel and 19 times on the Internet.
The Institute’s communication activities and the coordination of communication between the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Institute are each handled by one of our colleagues, who are appointed as press officers and deputy press officers respectively.

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN RELATIONS

1  OKRI’s domestic relations

In general, the Hungarian relations of the Institute were similar to those in previous years.
Overall, the Institute’s domestic relations remained consistent with those of previous years.
The closest cooperation continued with the Office of the Prosecutor General and the prosecution service in general. Almost half of the work plan studies (10 in total) were initiated by the Office of the Prosecutor.
During the reporting period, professional cooperation was maintained with the Institute of Legal Studies of the Centre for Social Sciences (TK JTI) and the National Office for the Judiciary.
As representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, we regularly attend the meetings of the Committee for the Security Evaluation of Sport Events and take part in the electronic preparation of evaluation proposals in priority procedures. We also participate in the meetings of the Security Committee of the Hungarian Football Association.
One of our researchers has been invited to join the network of prosecutors specializing in human trafficking.
One of our colleagues was awarded a Bolyai+ Higher Education Young Researcher Scholarship as part of the New National Excellence Program.
In 2024, our researchers participated in 95 national conferences, round tables, or workshops – some of them online – where they gave presentations, and attended 75 additional domestic events without presenting.
Our researchers have traditionally contributed to higher education, with many holding academic titles.
During the reporting period, the Institute hosted four interns—law, criminology, and PhD students – from the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Eötvös Loránd University, the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Pázmány Péter Catholic University, and the Doctoral School of the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the University of Szeged.

2  OKRI’s international relations

International relations play a key role in the life of research institutions. They provide valuable feedback for researchers and help assess OKRI’s research activities, as invitations to participate in international projects, joint proposals, or to publish in prestigious international journals all indicate that the Institute's research and professional achievements are valued by the international academic community. However, it should be noted that, once again this year, financial constraints have made it very difficult to maintain international contacts that involve personal participation.
During the reporting period, our researchers gave a total of 2 presentations at international events representing our Institute, and participated – either in person, online, or in hybrid form – in 9 additional events without giving a presentation.
Another researcher completed the Council of Europe’s HELP tutor training and, after passing the exam, became a national tutor. As a result, we now have two qualified researchers working at our Institute.
On 25 April 2024, Dr. Angelina Stanojoska, a criminologist and Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs and International Cooperation at the Faculty of Law of Ohrid’s St. Kliment University, visited our Institute.
On 14 May 2024, the National Institute of Criminology signed a cooperation agreement with the East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) in Shanghai.
Between 14 and 16 May 2024, two of our researchers, as members of the COST Action Management Committee, attended a project meeting at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, where they contributed to ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Mendez Principles.
On 17 September 2024, a delegation from the Research Institute of Criminology of Uzbekistan – led by the Institute’s Director, Bakhtiyor Erkinovich Berdialiev, and the Uzbek Ambassador, Oybek Shakhavdinov – visited our Institute.
On 14 October 2024, our Institute hosted representatives of the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, with whom we held a professional meeting as part of the cooperation agreement signed on 14 May.
During the year under review, our staff also made use of the opportunities offered by online platforms: in addition to participating in international scientific events, they engaged in self-training through various courses.

LIBRARY

As of December 2024, the library’s holdings totaled 9,961 inventory units.

In addition to acquisitions, exchanges and donations are important sources of enrichment for our collection. We consider it important to maintain good relations with libraries holding similar collections. Mutual cooperation supports professional library work and provides better access to information for users. Our exchange partners include the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg, the Office of the Prosecutor General, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, the Curia, the Library of the Faculty of Law Enforcement of the National University of Public Service, the Library of the Constitutional Court, and the Library of the Office of the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. We also maintain an excellent professional relationship with the Library of the Budapest General Prosecutor’s Office.
Our librarian curates the Office of the Prosecutor General’s peer-reviewed journal, Prosecution Review (Ügyészségi Szemle), and also assists researchers with MTMT data entry and the uploading of full-text publications to the REAL database upon request. We also respond to reference questions from both researchers and prosecutors. In addition, we welcome external readers by prior registration.
We regularly participate in professional training and conferences to stay up to date with current trends.
In 2023, we contacted the DOI office of the Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and reached an agreement to assign DOI numbers to the articles of the Institute's annual journal, Studies on Criminology. As a result, the articles of Criminological Studies published in 2023 and 2024 are now identified by DOI numbers and archived and uploaded by us in the REAL database in addition to the Institute’s website.

In 2024, we will subscribe to the following databases:
• Oxford Handbooks Online (OHO) Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Hungarian legislation in force in three languages (published by Wolters Kluwer)
At present, the library subscribes to the following international periodicals: The British Journal of Criminology; European Journal of Criminology; Kriminalistik; Monatsschrift für Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform.
 

INTERNAL CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
OF THE INSTITUTE

7 presentations were delivered in the internal continuous development system of the Institute during the current year.

• A regression model to explain the evolution in the number of crimes against life
      Rapporteur: József Kó, Date: 31 January
• Possibilities of compensation for financial loss caused in criminal cases of budget fraud
      Rapporteurs: Gabriella Kármán & Petronella Deres, Date: 27 March
• Improper legal practice within the scope of maintenance obligation crimes
      Rapporteur: Renáta Garai, Date: 24 April
•  The life imprisonment without parole
      Rapporteur: Ágnes Solt, Date: 29 May 
•  Relationship between the accused and the victim
      Rapporteur: Anna Kiss, Date: 12 June 
•  The investigation of animal cruelty
      Rapporteur: Katalin Tilki, Date: 25 September 
•  Examination of the crime of extortion
      Rapporteur: László Tibor Nagy, Date: 5 November 

INSTITUTIONAL PUBLICATIONS

During the reporting period, 1 publications were published by the Institute.

1  Kriminológiai Tanulmányok 61. kötet [Studies on Criminology, Vol. 61.]
(Ed.: Tünde A. Barabás) National Institute of Criminology, Budapest, 2024
https://www.okri.hu/images/stories/KT/KT61_2024/KT61_web_full.pdf

2  Képzési modulok kidolgozása és lebonyolítása a munkacélú kizsákmányolás jellemzőiről és az INVERT programcsomag prototípusáról. INVERT projekt tréningkötet
(D 4.1) (szerk.: Windt Szandra) (online) (Hungarian version)
OKRI honlap, Budapest, 2024
https://www.okri.hu/images/stories/INVERT/Training/training_manual_hu.pdf

3  Develop and conduct training modules on labour trafficking features and prototype INVERT suite Training Manual of INVERT (D. 4.1.)
(ed.: Szandra Windt) (online)
OKRI website, Budapest, 2024 (English version)
https://www.okri.hu/images/stories/KT/KT61_2024/KT61_web_full.pdf

Last year, our journal, Criminological Studies, has been classified as a category B journal by the Committee of State and Legal Studies of Department XI of Economics and Law of the Academy of Sciences.

CONTACTS, POPULARISATION OF SCIENCE

 
Conferences in OKRI, 2024

– 22 February, Ludovika University of Public Service, Budapest
Title of conference: Victims of Crime Day 2024: “Victimisation in cyberspace”
Partners: Hungarian Society of Criminology Victimology Section, Ludovika University of Public Service

– 6 June, OKRI, Budapest
Title of conference: Recent trends in human trafficking since 2020, with a special focus on the characteristics of labor exploitation (Within the framework of the INVERT international research)

– 27 September, OKRI, Budapest
Title of conference: Researchers’ Night 2024 programme series: “Researchers’ Night at the National Institute of Criminology” assets professional-scientific conference

– 18 November, OKRI, Budapest
Title of conference: Celebration of Hungarian Science 2024 – Scientific advice in the service of society: “Offences that endanger/harm the environment – situation and future orientations”

NEWSLETTER OF THE INSTITUTE

Our Intranet Newsletter provides ongoing information to colleagues on a weekly basis on current institutional programmes and library developments and personnel news; in addition, attention may be brought to several online periodicals as a result of the individual activities of our researchers and our library manager.

WEBSITE

Our website provides information on a wide range of topics, including the following:

• reports published on the Institute’s wide-ranging operations;
• information provided on an ongoing basis on current domestic and international events;
• each of our researchers has an individual personalised interface where they can update their particulars, post their studies, and disclose other information;
• our publications, promoted in a special section;
• insights provided into the life of the Institute; news is supplemented with photos of memorable events;
• we assist in producing more specific searches with key data, as well as enhancing hits through international search engines;
• the English version of the homepage that assists foreigners in browsing;
• both in Hungary and internationally, in partnership with partner sites, there are more and more external links to the website of our Institute, therefore we also publish website access to many organisations and institutions in the “Useful links” section.

The renewed website is user-friendly, informative and its appearance is worthy of a European level research institute.