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– Can you describe what your doctoral project is about?

– The keywords for my project are crime, children and social protection. My project is about the consideration of social protection in criminal law, and its significance in the face of children's rights and the consideration of the child's best interests, when a child over the age of criminal responsibility commits a serious crime. What I want to find out is how we should understand criminal law at the intersection between social protection and children's rights. The PhD is part of the larger research project PROTECT, which aims to enhance understanding of how to integrate children’s rights with public safety concerns by exploring the intersection between child protection and criminal justice systems.

– I am currently working on an updated project description, and as part of this I am trying to articulate what the various articles of the thesis will address. The plan is that each article will address the topic at its own "legal level" in the criminal justice system. One article at a conceptual level, one at a regulatory level, and one at a court level.

– In addition to this I also want to look closer at the relationship between the consideration of social protection and the consideration of the best interests of the child in the intersection between criminal law and the child welfare system.

– Why do you want to research this particular topic? 

I want to research this topic because it is incredibly interesting, incredibly important and incredibly exciting. Also, it must be said that I love criminal law, and that my interest in the position of children in the legal system in general, and in criminal law in particular, is probably above average. Questions about why we punish have always engaged me, especially when it comes to our young and most vulnerable offenders. I want to challenge how we view and understand punishment and criminal law. Especially in light of today's society, where the focus is on preparedness and on preventing crime from happening.

– I want to help develop understanding and knowledge that ultimately can result in solutions that are positive for children, but that at the same time take societal safety seriously. In addition, it is great to be able to be part of a larger and interdisciplinary project like PROTECT.

– How has the start of your fellowship been?

– It has been wonderful! Since the day I graduated from law school I have longed to return to Dragefjellet, so starting as a research fellow here has sort of felt like coming home. In light of this I have romanticized these first weeks a bit. When friends and family ask me how my new job is going, my answer is: “I get to come to the office every day and think and read and write about something that really interests! That’s not work, it’s life”. This being said, I have been incredibly well received, both by the faculty and by the other research fellows. It is engaging and educational to spar with research fellows who are at such different stages in their projects. 

– I already notice that being a research fellow means a lot of freedom, and with this freedom comes a lot of responsibility. The focus these first weeks has therefore been to brush up on the routines from my student days, with good and detailed daily and weekly plans. But I like this way of working, and I look forward to the next four years as a research fellow at Dragefjellet!