In the wake of the attack on Berlin’s CSD, calls are growing for stricter criminal laws and tougher action against young individuals posing a threat. However, Prof. Dr. Christine Graebsch of the Faculty of Applied Social Studies at Fachhochschule Dortmund warns against populist knee-jerk reactions.
The criminologist explains why the proposed reforms will not solve the problem—and may, in fact, even exacerbate the radicalization of young people.
From a criminological perspective, the instinct to call for ever-harsher penalties for criminal offenses falls short. Radicalization and the associated crimes are indeed typical of youth, Graebsch emphasizes in an interview with Legal Tribune Online(Opens in a new tab) . This is one reason why German juvenile criminal law has a much more well-thought-out and nuanced system of sanctions than adult criminal law. It takes into account the scientific finding that harsh and custodial sentences often have the opposite of the desired effect, especially among young people.
“Incarceration tends to fuel hatred toward the state and society rather than prevent it,” Graebsch explains. Locking young people up carries the risk of further entrenching radicalization processes. Referring to the case in Berlin, the professor also points out: “In this respect, it remains entirely unclear what was triggered in this particular case by both pretrial detention and imprisonment in Lebanon.”
Risk assessment requires trust, not repression
One point of political debate concerns the assessment of risks. However, predicting who among a group of ideologically radicalized individuals will actually commit an act of violence is extremely difficult. “It only seems easy in hindsight,” Prof. Graebsch clarifies. “Simply locking up as many people as possible, however, is not a solution.” Specialized prevention efforts are needed to make reliable threat assessments and counteract radicalization. “This requires a relationship of trust that is more likely to be established through external organizations than through purely repressive government measures,” says Graebsch.
FH stands with the queer community
Fachhochschule Dortmund has been a partner of CSD Dortmund for several years and stands firmly alongside the queer community. The university will once again be involved in this year’s Dortmund Christopher Street Day.
The city of Dortmund has already announced that, in light of current events, “the existing security measures for CSD will be reviewed once again and adjusted where necessary.”