Sjoukje van Deuren

Sjoukje van Deuren is an Assistant Professor in Criminology at the Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), and is affiliated with the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR). Her academic work bridges empirical research and policy relevance in the domains of organized crime, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency.

• Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• Researcher, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)
• Member, A-LAB and Empirical and Normative Studies
• Project Researcher, EPIC: Explaining, Preventing, and Intervening in Organized Crime Involvement (2024–2028)

Her research focuses on the structure and behavior of outlaw motorcycle gangs, particularly the Hells Angels, examining entry mechanisms, co-offending patterns, social proximity, and judicial responses. She also investigates the dynamics of domestic violence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the interplay between criminal behavior and personal relationships. Her methodological approach is predominantly empirical, using large-scale datasets and qualitative case studies.

The most recent articles show a strong trend in analyzing organized crime through both quantitative and qualitative lenses, with a focus on Dutch outlaw motorcycle gangs. Her work frequently explores how formal club hierarchies relate to criminal behavior, the geographical and social clustering of co-offenders, and the societal impact of crime policies. A secondary but consistent theme is domestic violence, particularly how reporting and prevalence shifted during public health crises.

She teaches the course Transnational Organized Crime and has previously served as a lecturer at VU. She has been involved in multiple research projects, most notably the ongoing EPIC project, which examines pathways into organized crime and intervention strategies. While no formal advisees are listed, her role as a PhD supervisor and project researcher suggests mentoring responsibilities.

Her collaborative work spans institutions and disciplines, often co-authored with leading criminologists such as E. Kleemans, A. Blokland, and R. Roks. She has contributed to policy-relevant reports on domestic violence and organized crime, indicating strong engagement with societal impact.