Michael Kilchling

Dr. Michael Kilchling is a Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, affiliated with the Department of Public Law since 2019. He also holds a lectureship at the University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Law since 2006 and was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Pécs, Hungary in 2021.

Education:

• Studies in Law and Criminology, University of Freiburg (1979–1985)
• First State Exam (1985)
• Doctorate at the Max Planck Institute under Prof. Günther Kaiser (1989–1995), awarded summa cum laude for his thesis on victim interests and public prosecution (1995)

Research Interests: Organized crime, terrorism, money laundering, restorative justice, victimology, juvenile justice, and penal sanctions. His work emphasizes legal and societal responses to crime, victim rights, and systemic reforms in criminal justice.

Projects & Grants:

• All Locked Up and Left Behind?: Examines prison communication rights and human rights implications.
• Periodic Surveillance Barometer for Germany: Analyzes state surveillance and constitutional freedoms.
• Comparative European Study – Rights After Conviction: Investigates civil/political rights restrictions post-conviction.

Awards: Doctor Honoris Causa (2021), recognition for contributions to victimology and criminology.

Professional Roles: Member of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, European Society of Criminology, and editorial board of F3 – Freedom from Fear.曾 served as German Delegate for EU-funded victimology projects and on the Council of Europe’s victim assistance advisory group.