The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law is a leading European center for research in criminal law, criminology, and public security matters. The research conducted in our three departments (Criminal Law, Criminology, and Public Law) is comparative, international, and interdisciplinary.
The Institute is part of the Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science – one of the world’s most distinguished and successful research organizations. The high level of its fundamental research is reflected not least in the 29 Nobel Prizes awarded to Max Planck scientists since the Society was founded in 1948.
The Institute is located in Freiburg im Breisgau, a dynamic and green university city with a 900-year history. The city is located in a trinational border region (Germany, Switzerland, and France) and captivates with its high quality of life and international flair. Freiburg ranks third on Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2022” list of the top ten cities to visit.