Jörg Kinzig

Professor Jörg Kinzig serves as Chair of Criminology, Criminal Law and Sanctions Law and Director of the Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of Law, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. He actively teaches core courses including Criminal Law Special Part, Criminology II (Microcriminology), and Penal System across multiple semesters through 2025, maintaining office hours for student advisement in Criminal Justice focus areas.

His academic journey began with law studies at Heidelberg, Lausanne, and Freiburg (1983-1989), followed by First and Second State Examinations (1989, 1992), doctorate summa cum laude (1996), and habilitation granting venia legendi for criminal law, criminology, and penal systems (2003). His foundational experience includes 15 years as scientific advisor at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law (1992-2007).

• 1982: High school diploma, Karl-Friedrich-Gymnasium Mannheim
• 1983-1989: Law studies, Universities of Heidelberg/Lausanne/Freiburg
• 1989: First State Examination in Law
• 1989-1992: Legal traineeship, Regional Court of Freiburg
• 1992: Second State Examination in Law
• 1992-2007: Scientific advisor, Max Planck Institute
• 1996: Doctorate summa cum laude
• 2003: Habilitation, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg
• 2006: Appointment as university professor

Kinzig's research integrates empirical criminology with legal frameworks, examining violent crime patterns, drug policy implications, white-collar offenses, and constitutional foundations of penal systems. His work bridges theoretical criminology with practical applications in prison service and offender rehabilitation, emphasizing juvenile criminal law and migration-related crime dynamics through the Institute of Criminology's ongoing projects.

Administratively, he served as Dean of the Faculty of Law (2012-2014), Vice Dean (2010-2012), and Dean of Studies (2008-2010). His national leadership includes Presidency of the Criminological Society (2023-2024), Vice Presidency (2020-2023), and dual terms on the German Research Foundation's Law Review Board (2012-2015, 2016-2019). Current initiatives focus on sanctions research and prison system modernization.

He mentors law students through specialized seminars like the 2022 cannabis policy block seminar, guiding research on emerging legal issues. The Institute of Criminology under his direction maintains endowed and junior professorships while developing curriculum for Criminal Justice focus areas, with upcoming courses scheduled through Summer Semester 2025.