RPsych Rechtspsychologie

Recent developments propose an alternative operationalization of psychopathy, which defines psychopathy on the basis of dysfunctional personality traits such as antagonism and disinhibition—as seen in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD)—as...

Vigilantism refers to an attitude characterized by a willingness to engage in acts of self-justice and an increased desire for control and punishment directed at certain groups. Such attitudes are often targeted toward migrants or members of...

Both in Germany and internationally, there has been a rise in right-wing authoritarian populist parties with a significant increase in voter numbers. In Germany, the “Alternative für Deutschland” (AfD) has gained considerable importance. It has...

In a recent landmark decision of the 5th Criminal Senate of the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof – BGH), the BGH has abandoned its hitherto established case law on the imposition of juvenile sentences based on the degree of...

§ 105 (1) of the Juvenile Courts Act (Jugendgerichtsgesetz – JGG), which regulates the criminal treatment of adolescents, has regularly been the focus of criminal policy and social debates since its introduction. According to this norm, the...

The credibility of a victim and their statement in criminal proceedings is crucial for the decision to press charges. Therefore, assessing this credibility is a key factor and should be conducted objectively, without preconceptions. This study...

The legislator fundamentally changed sexual offences law with the 50th Criminal Code Amendment Act in 2016 and shifted the limits of criminal liability. This also has consequences for sexual offences investigations. In the course of the reform, it...

Intuition is considered particularly important within the police, yet intuitive judgments and decisions are subject to cognitive biases, which can lead to errors in investigations. This study primarily examines the impact of confirmation bias and...

Sexual harassment at the workplace can have strong impacts on those who experience it. As certain organizational characteristics (e.g. a culture of masculinity) increase the probability of sexual harassment at the workplace, it may be assumed that...

This article examines the requirements for presenting witness statements in the reasoning of judgments in "one person's word against another's"-situations, particularly against the backdrop of the Federal Court of Justice's decisions (decision of...

Compared to the frequency of use of detention in judicial practice, there are hardly any empirical studies on the execution of juvenile detention in Germany. This article is dedicated to the experience of this measure involving deprivation of...