The conference focuses on new approaches towards two subject matters. On alternative sanctions to reduce the harmful effects of imprisonment and the costs of its enforcement and on restorative justice, which shifts the focus from punishment to reparation in all phases of criminal procedure by bringing together victims, offenders, and where necessary community members. Restorative justice measures aim to repair the harm caused, to encourage taking responsibility, and find solutions for healing and preventing future offenses, thereby aiming to avoid the harmful effects of the criminal proceedings where possible for all participants.

With the contribution of national and international experts, the Criminal Law Unit of the MCC is organising a conference to examine specific questions regarding these topics.

Venue: Mathias Corvinus Collegium, 1113 Budapest, Tas vezér utca 3-7.

Bakócz Tamás and Szilágyi Erzsébet rooms

Programme

Thursday 25 September

15.30 – 16.15  Welcome and registration

16.15   Session I– Alternative Sanctions

Chair: (tbc)

Alternative sanctions and restorative justice in Hungary and Europe – An Introduction

Dr. András Csúri, Criminal Law Unit, MCC

Alternative sanctions in Hungary - practice and challenges

Dr. Gábor Jancsó, former Ministry of Justice Deputy State Secretary for criminal law codification

Electronic monitoring as an autonomous criminal sanction?

Tamás Soltész, Junior Researcher, MCC Criminal Law Unit

Legal instruments against football hooliganism in Hungary: available solutions and possible alternatives

Botond Kunkli, Junior Researcher, MCC Criminal Law Unit –

Discussion

17.45 Coffee break

18.00 – 19.00  Book Presentation

**The International Encyclopaedia of Restorative Justice (**De Gruyter Brill, 2025)

In conversation with criminologist extraordinaire: Professor Frieder Dünkel

In conversation with Professor em. Frieder Dünkel (University of Greifswald, recipient of the Cesare Beccaria Medal 2022), project leader of the study and co-editor of the volume:

The International Encyclopaedia of Restorative Justice: Europe

(Edited by Frieder Dünkel, Marianne Johanna Lehmkuhl, Andrea Păroşanu, Ineke Pruin).

Moderator: Dr. András Csúri, MCC Criminal Law Unit

Friday, September 26

9.00     Session II – Restorative Justice - International Perspectives

Chair: Dr. András Csúri, MCC Criminal Law Department

Restorative justice in Germany: Specific forms and good practices

Prof. Dr. Frieder Dünkel, University of Greifswald

Restorative justice in Switzerland: Experiences and specific forms

Prof. Dr. Ineke Pruin, University of Bern, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology –

Restorative justice in the EU Member States: results of an international comparative project

Prof. Dr. Frieder Dünkel and Prof. Dr. Ineke Pruin

Discussion

10.30 – 10.45 Coffee break

10.45   Session III – Restorative Justice in Hungary

Chair: Professor Ineke Pruin, University of Bern

Development opportunities for RJ methods in Hungary

Prof. Dr. Tünde A. Barabás, Director of the Hungarian National Institute of Criminology

The possibilities for applying restorative methods in the Hungarian prison system

Mihály Kovács, National Penitentiary Headquarters, Detention Affairs Service, Head of Service

Restorative methods in the context of the Hungarian prison system: the possibilities

Discussion and Closing Remarks

12.00   Lunch for the Speakers and end of Conference