Jenneke Christiaens

Jenneke Christiaens is a Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, specializing in Criminology. She is affiliated with the Brussels Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Migration and Minorities and leads the Voicing Youth research group.

• Education: PhD thesis on juvenile delinquency in Belgium (1830–1930).

Her research focuses on juvenile justice systems, police practices, and social justice. She employs qualitative and participatory methods to amplify marginalized voices in criminology, particularly youth at social risk.

Recent research trends include critical analyses of police stops in Belgium, desistance from crime among persistent juvenile offenders, and ethical frameworks for qualitative criminological studies.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Ignace Verschueren Prijs (1999)
  • Roger Van Geen Prijs (2012)

She supervises PhD students like Inès Saudelli and collaborates on projects such as ViolenceStop in Cuba. Her work intersects with youth rights, policing reform, and interdisciplinary migration studies.

Christiaens contributes to policy discussions, including seminars at the Council of Europe and COST Action evaluations, while engaging in public debates on protests and civil rights.