Criminology in Crisis: Reflections on Crime Control, Social Justice, and the Pandemic Era
Abstract: The 21st Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EuroCrim 2021) was originally scheduled to take place in Lausanne, Switzerland. Due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the event was transformed into a fully online e-conference. This shift in format mirrored the seismic shifts occurring in the field of criminology itself. As society locked down, crime patterns shifted, policing powers expanded, and prisons became epidemiological hotspots. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the key themes discussed during EuroCrim 2021, analyzing how the discipline of criminology is adapting to a world redefined by crisis.
1. Introduction: The Disruption of Routine Activities
One of the most immediate impacts of the pandemic discussed at EuroCrim 2021 was the dramatic alteration of crime statistics, a phenomenon largely explained by Routine Activity Theory. This theory posits that for a crime to occur, three elements must converge: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. The lockdowns implemented across Europe in 2020 and 2021 fundamentally disrupted this convergence.
Presentations from researchers in the UK, France, and Germany highlighted a uniform trend: a massive drop in traditional street crimes such as robbery, pickpocketing, and burglary of residences. With people confined to their homes, the "guardianship" of residential properties was at an all-time high, while the supply of victims in public spaces evaporated. However, this drop in street crime was not a disappearance of crime, but a displacement. The conference highlighted a disturbing rise in commercial burglaries of closed shops and a significant spike in cybercrime, as the "motivated offenders" migrated to the digital realm where potential targets were increasingly spending their time.
2. The Shadow Pandemic: Domestic Violence
While public spaces became safer, private spaces became increasingly dangerous for many. A major focus of the 2021 conference was the "Shadow Pandemic" of domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV). Criminologists presented harrowing data showing that while calls to police might have fluctuated, calls to helplines skyrocketed across the continent.
The lockdown created a unique criminological environment where victims were trapped 24/7 with their abusers, often cut off from support networks, social services, and the respite of the workplace. Researchers argued that traditional policing methods failed in this context. The inability of victims to make private phone calls rendered standard reporting mechanisms obsolete. This sparked a debate on the need for alternative reporting systems—such as pharmacy code words (e.g., "Mask 19") used in Spain and France—and the role of social workers as essential frontline responders. The consensus was clear: the pandemic exposed the fragility of our protective systems for vulnerable women and children.
3. Policing the Pandemic: Authority and Legitimacy
The enforcement of public health mandates thrust police forces across Europe into a novel and controversial role. Suddenly, activities that were previously lawfulsitting on a park bench, gathering with family, traveling to a second home—became administrative or criminal offenses. Several panels at EuroCrim 2021 were dedicated to "Policing the Pandemic."
Comparative studies showed a sharp divergence in policing styles. In some nations, a "consent-based" approach was maintained, relying on public cooperation. In others, a more militarized, punitive approach was adopted, with heavy fines and drones used to monitor movement. Criminologists warned of the long-term damage to "Procedural Justice" and police legitimacy. When police are viewed as arbitrary enforcers of confusing and constantly changing health regulations, trust erodes. This erosion is particularly dangerous in marginalized communities, where trust was already low. The data presented suggested that pandemic fines were disproportionately levied against ethnic minorities and the poor, reinforcing structural inequalities within the justice system.
4. The Crisis in Prisons: Public Health vs. Public Safety
Prisons are, by design, enclosed environments with poor ventilation and an inability to practice social distancing. In 2021, they became incubators for the virus. This reality forced a confrontation between penal populism and public health necessity. European nations took varied approaches, which were analyzed in depth during the Penology sessions.
Some countries, recognizing the risk, executed emergency release schemes for low-risk offenders to reduce overcrowding. This "natural experiment" in decarceration provided fascinating data for abolitionists and reformers. Preliminary findings suggested that these early releases did not lead to a spike in crime, challenging the assumption that high incarceration rates are the only way to maintain public safety. Conversely, in prisons where releases did not occur, the regime became draconian. Prisoners were often locked in cells for 23 hours a day, visits were suspended, and rehabilitation programs halted. Criminologists argued that this constituted a form of "double punishment," inflicting severe psychological harm that will have repercussions for recidivism rates for years to come.
5. The Digital Shift: Cybercrime and Online Fraud
As the physical world closed down, the criminal world went online. The Cybercrime track at EuroCrim 2021 was one of the most attended. The pandemic created a fertile ground for fraud. Fear and uncertainty are key drivers of victimization, and scammers capitalized on this by selling fake vaccines, non-existent PPE, and fraudulent government support schemes.
Beyond fraud, the conference addressed the rise of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online. With children spending more time on unsupervised screens for remote learning, predatory behavior escalated. Law enforcement agencies reported being overwhelmed by the volume of digital evidence. This sparked discussions on the role of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Big Tech in policing content. The debate centered on the tension between encryption/privacy and the need for effective investigation, a debate that remains unresolved but was sharpened by the urgency of the pandemic context.
6. Methodological Innovation in a Remote World
Finally, the conference turned the lens on itself. How do criminologists conduct research when they cannot enter prisons, ride along with police, or interview victims face-to-face? EuroCrim 2021 showcased a wave of methodological innovation.
Researchers moved to "digital ethnography," analyzing online forums and dark web marketplaces to understand criminal subcultures. Surveys were moved entirely online, raising questions about sampling bias (excluding those without internet access). However, the shift also democratized access to data in some ways, allowing for larger, cross-national datasets to be compiled rapidly. The ethics of remote research—specifically the difficulty of ensuring confidentiality and informed consent over Zoom—was a hot topic. The discipline proved resilient, finding new ways to listen to the voices of the justice-involved even through the digital divide.
Conclusion: Towards a Resilient Criminology
EuroCrim 2021 will be remembered not just for its format, but for the urgency of its content. The pandemic acted as a stress test for European criminal justice systems, revealing cracks in the foundation that can no longer be ignored. It exposed the deep interconnection between public health and public safety, the fragility of police legitimacy, and the desperate need for digital literacy in law enforcement.
As we look towards the future, the lessons of 2021 must not be forgotten. The displacement of crime to the digital sphere is likely permanent. The need for a justice system that prioritizes harm reduction over punitiveness has been scientifically validated by the pandemic experience. The European Society of Criminology remains committed to rigorous, evidence-based research to guide policymakers through this brave new world. While we look forward to meeting in person again, the intellectual intensity of this e-conference proved that the pursuit of justice does not stop, even when the world stands still.
This article serves as the editorial introduction to the 2021 Book of Proceedings. Full papers and recordings are available in the member area.