Research groups
Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP)
It is the intention of IRCP, which is integrated in the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology of the Faculty of Law of Ghent University, to conduct and promote internationally relevant scientific research regarding criminal policy issues.International Research Institute on Social Fraud (IRIS)
IRIS is a knowledge centre gathering relevant information of regional, national and international interest, regarding social fraud in the broadest sense of the word.
Lab for International & Interdisciplinary Social Affairs (LIISA)
LIISA is characterised by its European and international perspective, multidisciplinarity, social relevance, academic independence, and dynamic character.
Privacy, Information Exchange, Law Enforcement and Surveillance (PIXLES)
PIXLES is a flexible, decentralised platform for Ghent University researchers, external practitioners and research experts with a focus on current, societal dilemma's and developments in the context of privacy, information exchange, law enforcement & security.
Computational and Quantitative Criminology Lab
The Computational and Quantitative Criminology Lab focuses on analyzing and understanding crime and its response using computational and quantitative methods. Where and when does crime occur and why there and then, and what practical implications does this have for optimizing police presence in time and space? In answering these questions, a quantitative, empirical and interdisciplinary approach is paramount, combining and integrating insights from criminology with insights and techniques from geography, psychology, epidemiology, behavioral ecology, statistics and data science to contribute to the fundamental scientific understanding of crime and crime control. We aim to provide scientifically based insights that are not only academically relevant but also offer practical value to policy makers, security actors and urban planners.
UGent Crime Lab
Crime Lab is an academic research group based at the Faculty of Law and Criminology, Ghent University that brings together cutting-edge expertise in computational and quantitative methods to advance the scientific study of crime and society’s reaction to it. Crime Lab conducts both fundamental and applied research, with a strong interdisciplinary orientation that bridges criminology, data science, and spatial analysis. The complementary expertise available in Crime Lab allows the group to explore a wide range of topics—ranging from the micro-geography of crime and policing strategies to predictive modeling, environmental criminology, and public perceptions of crime and safety as well as sexual offending and transgressive behavior. The team is committed to producing robust, data-driven insights that contribute to both academic knowledge and real-world impact.