Go beyond enforcement. Shape justice that works.

Today, professionals in criminal justice must do more than apply rules.
They need to understand systems, navigate international cooperation, and critically assess what works, for whom, and why.

In the Criminal Justice Work minor, you analyse how law, policy and professional practice shape the quality and effectiveness of criminal justice systems. 

You learn to critically assess interventions such as probation, working alliances, and social networks, and to distinguish evidence-based approaches from well-intended but ineffective ones. 

The focus is on real-world impact: reducing reoffending, strengthening legitimacy, and improving cooperation across disciplines.

Content 

This minor sharpens your profile as a higher-education professional who can think systemically, work across legal, policy and social domains, and operate confidently in international and complex contexts.

You position yourself as a specialist who understands criminal justice beyond enforcement alone.

Why Criminal Justice Work is essential today.

Criminal justice systems are under pressure due to rapid social and geopolitical changes.

Geopolitical tensions, wars, and unstable states contribute to:

• an increase in cross-border and transnational crime.
• complex safety and security challenges.
• extremism and hybrid political threats.

Digitalization and globalization make crime:

• more international.
• more complex.
• harder to address with national legal instruments alone.

Public societal criticism is growing, regarding:

• sentencing and detention.
• ethnic profiling.
• unequal access to justice.
• the real effectiveness of interventions.

For more information see this flyer.

Courses

The programme consists of six courses, three per period.                 

Period C 

Criminal Law in European Context   5 ECTS        
Public Management of Security        5 ECTS            
Trends in Criminology                     5 ECTS                       

Period D 

Effective Probation in European Context             5 ECTS    
Strengthening Social Capital and Social Network 5 ECTS   
Working Alliance                                               5 ECTS   

The classes and lectures are truly international, with students from all over the world. The courses will focus on current developments in the field of Criminal Justice.

Assignments and lectures have a practical approach and are developed in co-creation with practitioners in the field. Study visits are organized during the International Week, which takes place in March of each course year. 

The general course aim of the minor courses is to contribute to the fulfilment of the European (Dublin) descriptors for the bachelor’s degree: knowledge and understanding, applying knowledge, and understanding, making judgements, communication and learning skills. 

Every course has a specific learning output which relates to these descriptors. You can find more information about the content, the learning output and goals of the minor courses on the CANVAS course sites. You can also contact the minor contact person.

Your propedeuse has to be completed. Further you have attained English language skills at CEFR level B2. 

You can also follow this minor as a part-time student. Ask the minor contact person for the possibilities.

Literature will be announced via mailings and the CANVAS course sites before the minor period starts. 

This minor takes place in the periods C and D. The minor starts in February.  

The lesson and test schedules are always posted on Mijn Rooster four weeks before the start of each teaching period. The schedule for the first teaching period of the academic year can be found on the site three weeks before the start. The most up-to-date schedule is always visible on Mijn Rooster. 

At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00.

The minor courses have different assessment methods. Some courses have individual assessments, other courses have group assessments or combinations of both. 

Signed learning agreements can be uploaded up to and including 4 December 2026 in Osiris Registration, see the instructions on the learning agreement or check our site. Learning agreements that are received after 4 December will not be processed.  

Please note: Learning Agreements will be considered in order of entry in Osiris Application (first come, first serve). A submitted learning agreement will not entitle you to a spot within a minor unless the following is the case: 

* The minor is not yet full: each minor has a maximum number of places per period 

* The student has submitted the learning agreement in full (including his/her own details and signature and the stamp of the examination board). 

* HU has signed and stamped the learning agreement