Catrien Bijleveld

Catrien Bijleveld is a Professor of Methods and Techniques of Criminological and Empirical-Legal Research at VU Amsterdam, a Senior Researcher at the Netherlands Study Centre for Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), and Chair of the Dutch Association of Criminology. She serves as President-Elect of the European Society of Criminology and contributes to policy via roles such as Chair of the Advisory Board of the SEMA Foundation and the Commission on Information Management at the Ministry of Justice and Security (Cadi).

Her research spans criminology, victim studies, and empirical legal research, focusing on topics like crime victim health outcomes, judicial compensation predictability, extremism’s impact on child protection, and genetic influences on social support. Her recent work includes twin studies on crime victimization, epigenetic aging, and international crimes.

Her publications highlight trends in empirical analysis of legal systems, international criminal justice, and victim-centered policy. She co-authored studies on insider witness assessments at the ICTY, ICTR, and ICC, sentencing disparities, and psychosocial service delivery for victims.

Bijleveld leads multidisciplinary teams at NSCR, advancing research on crime prevention, legal accountability, and victim support frameworks. Her methodological expertise bridges criminology and behavioral genetics, emphasizing rigorous empirical approaches.