Theresia Höynck

Professor Theresia Höynck is a distinguished academic specializing in Child and Juvenile Law at the University of Kassel's Department of Social Work and Social Welfare. With a doctorate in law from Humboldt University Berlin (2005) and extensive professional experience in juvenile justice institutions, she brings both theoretical expertise and practical insights to her academic work. Her career spans leadership roles including Managing Director of the German Association for Juvenile Courts and Deputy Scientific Director of the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony before her current professorship since 2010.

• Born November 27, 1967 in Bonn
• Law studies at FU Berlin and University of Passau (1987-1992)
• Master in Legal Theory, LL.M. from European Academy for Legal Theory (1993/94)
• Doctorate (Dr. iur.) from Humboldt University Berlin (2005)

Professor Höynck's research focuses on the critical intersection between juvenile criminal justice and child welfare systems. Her work examines procedural rights in youth justice, empirical analyses of judicial decision-making, implementation of international human rights standards, and evidence-based evaluation of juvenile justice sanctions. She has pioneered research on the 'Jugendgerichtsbarometer' (Juvenile Court Barometer), providing systematic insights into how juvenile justice professionals interpret and apply the law.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across law journals, criminology publications, and social work literature, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Recent work addresses contemporary challenges including school-to-work transitions for at-risk youth, rape prosecution in juvenile contexts, and the evolving implementation of legal reforms strengthening juvenile defendants' rights.

• President of the German Juvenile Court Association (DVJJ)
• Extensive empirical research on juvenile justice implementation
• Leading expert on the interface between social work and juvenile criminal proceedings
• Author of over 80 scholarly publications spanning three decades

Professor Höynck maintains an active research program examining how legal frameworks translate into practice within Germany's juvenile justice system. Her work with judicial professionals and youth court assistants provides valuable insights into the practical challenges of implementing juvenile justice principles. She continues to shape academic discourse and professional practice through her leadership in the German Juvenile Court Association and ongoing empirical research projects.