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Justice or empathy? Prof. Beck calls for a reassessment of criminal law!
On October 14, 2025, Prof. Dr. Susanne Beck gave a lecture at the UNI Hannover on the relationship between justice and empathy in criminal law. Admission free!
Justice or empathy? Prof. Beck calls for a reassessment of criminal law!
On October 14, 2025, the lecture "Justice vs. Empathy? A new look at democratic criminal law" will be given by Prof. Dr. Susanne Beck, expert in criminal law at Leibniz University Hannover. The event starts at 8:30 p.m. in the Xplanatorium Herrenhausen, Hanover, and admission is free. Registration is not required. This event is in cooperation with the Volkswagen Foundation organized.
The lecture covers central aspects of German criminal law, including the origins of criminal law and current challenges. Prof. Dr. Beck will also discuss the dangers of a populist abuse of the criminal law, while at the same time shedding light on the importance of empathy as a possible basis for adjustments in criminal law. Topics such as combating fake news and hate on the Internet are also addressed, as criminal law can play a positive role in these current social debates. A livestream of the event will be available.
Criminal law in focus
As part of her lecture, Prof. Dr. Beck discuss the limits of existing criminal law. This raises the question of whether the neutrality and emotionlessness of justice are still viable in times of emotional social challenges. These considerations are part of a larger discourse about the future of criminal law that is becoming increasingly important among the public.
The goal of criminal law, to maintain legal peace in society, is currently made more difficult by the dissatisfaction among the population with regard to judicial decisions and sentencing, as is also the case in the book “Criminal Matters” by Elisa Hoven and Thomas Weigend described. This work deals with 18 relevant cases of German criminal law and addresses, among other things, the challenges in dealing with the new phenomena that have arisen through the Internet and social media.
Weigend, who was a teaching professor of criminal law for over three decades, emphasizes that the area of homicide and the rigid threat of sanctions for murder (Section 211 of the Criminal Code) are in particular need of reform. Penalties without imprisonment are rare outside of the juvenile criminal law in Germany. There are also important social changes that must also be taken into account in criminal law reforms.
Social challenges
A central concern of the discussion about criminal law is the consideration of different values in a pluralistic society. This issue is particularly relevant with regard to gender relations and sexual violence, where positive developments have already been achieved, such as the abolition of the criminalization of homosexuality.
The establishment of a criminal policy group of 35 professors to discuss reforms underlines the need for criminal law to address the challenges of today. A critical examination of the legal solutions is necessary in order to do justice to both legal and ethical demands.
Media representatives are invited in advance of the event, although informal registration is recommended. If you need further information, you can contact Mechtild Freiin v. directly. Münchhausen, press spokeswoman for Leibniz University Hannover.