Independent Research Groups

Max Planck Research Group
Max Planck Research Group
Max Planck Research Group
Max Planck Research Group

Publication Highlights


Cover Criminal Law and Philosophy: Hörnle, T. (2025). The relevance of a second-person viewpoint for criminal law doctrine. Criminal Law and Philosophy. doi:10.1007/s11572-025-09777-4
Cover: Hirsch, P.-A., & Moser, E. (Hrsg.). (2025). Rights in criminal law: Studies on a new paradigm in criminal law and procedure. Oxford: Hart Publishing. doi:10.5040/9781509973507
cover, Journal iScience
Cover, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Cover: Brecher, M., & Hirsch, P.-A. (Hrsg.). (2026). Law and morality in Kant. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009292030
Cover of the journal "Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology"
Cover Constitutional Law in Germany
Cover Vanderbilt Law Review
Cover, Book
Cover Criminal Law and Philosophy: Hirsch, P.-A. (2026). Crimes as status violations: conceptualising bipolar duties in criminal law. Criminal Law and Philosophy. doi:10.1007/s11572-025-09788-1
Cover, European Journal of Personality
Cover The Alexy-Poscher Debate on Legal Principles
Cover Die Polizei in der offenen Gesellschaft
Cover Handbook on Cities and Crime
Cover Journal of Experimental Criminology

Call for Papers

eucrim – European Law Forum: Prevention • Investigation • Prosecution | “20 Years of eucrim”
Call for Papers (pdf file) 2026 with possible topics including submission deadlines

Events

Third Freiburg PhD-Workshop on the Economics of Criminal Behavior

Sep 28, 2026 - Sep 30, 2026
Freiburg/Germany, Fürstenbergstr. 19, Room: Seminar room (F 113)

The Rise of Vulnerability: How Expanding Moral Concepts Reshape Political Culture

Oct 26, 2026 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Freiburg/Germany, Fürstenbergstr. 19, Room: Seminar room (F 113) | Guests are welcome; please register

The European Registry of Exonerations (EUREX)

Nov 3, 2026 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Freiburg/Germany, Fürstenbergstr. 19, Room: Seminar room (F 113) | Guests are welcome; please register

Meet the Researchers


The Directors

Video
Tatjana Hörnle, Jean-Louis van Gelder, and Ralf Poscher – the Institute’s direc­tors – introduce their research depart­ments and explain why the Max Planck Institute is one of the top addresses for international researchers in the fields of criminal law, public law, and criminology. (YouTube)

PHD @ MPI-CSL with Tatiana Khalaf

Video
Moving from Lebanon to Germany for a PhD is a huge leap. In this video, Tatiana breaks down her research on moral blind spots and shares the key factors that made her international move a seamless success. (YouTube)

PHD @ MPI-CSL with Rasmus Möring

Video
Interested in writing your PhD at the MPI-CSL? Then take a look at someone who is already doing it. Rasmus shares his tips for prospective PhD researchers in this video... including the need for coffee and the importance of wonderful colleagues. (YouTube)

James M. An­go­ve, Senior Re­searcher, Department of Public Law

Video
“When political violence happens, it is tempting to point a finger at those who committed the violence or those who en­couraged them. But, on inspection, modern political violence doesn’t always meet these expectations.” (YouTube)
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