Vincent Geeraets

Vincent Geeraets is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, Department of Legal Theory and Legal History at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). He is also affiliated with the Kooijmans Institute and Boundaries of Law research groups. His research focuses on criminal law theory, punishment justification, restorative justice, and sports doping ethics. Geeraets holds a law degree from the University of Groningen and completed his PhD in Legal Theory there, defending his thesis A Neutral Conception of Punishment in 2011. He teaches courses such as Philosophy of Criminal Law (for criminology students) and Methods of Legal Research (for law students).

His research interests span punitive justice theories, victim impact statements, and legal reform. Notable recent work includes investigations into sports ethics (e.g., the Magnus Carlsen-Hans Niemann cheating case) and critiques of consequentialist approaches to justice. Geeraets actively participates in academic events, including lectures on procedural justice and restorative practices.

He has contributed to over 31 research outputs, including peer-reviewed articles and reports, and engages in ancillary activities like the Fair Play Commission in Lausanne. His work emphasizes bridging normative legal theory with practical applications, particularly in criminal justice and sports governance.