Research Projects

The Institute of Criminal Justice and Security Research

The task of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security Research is to carry out research in the field of criminal justice. This task includes examination and development of theories, structure, processes and procedures, causes and consequences of societal responses to criminality, delinquency and other security issues. In terms of content, research areas of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security Research overlap those in the Faculty’s study programmes.

The Institute’s research work is done in the form of basic, applied, development and other projects and consultancy services that constitute part of the national research programme. In addition, the Institute also carries out scientific research and other activities outside the scope of this programme.

In 2019, Institute of Criminal Justice and Security Research celebrated fifteen years of existence. We marked the occasion with a ceremony held on 29th January 2020 at the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor (15 years of Institute of Criminal Justice and Security - PDF presentation).

Igor Areh
Igor  Areh Ph.D.

Acting Vice Dean for Research and International Cooperation

Research activity of the Faculty of Criminal Justice University of Maribor (SICRIS)

Research Programme

SECURITY AND SAFETY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES – COMPARISON BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS (2019-2024 and 2025-2027)
programme leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
programme members: assoc. prof. dr. Igor Bernik, assoc. prof. dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman, prof. dr. Bojan Dobovšek, assoc. prof. dr. Katja Eman, lect. dr. Vanja Erčulj, Barbara Erjavec, assoc. prof. dr. Benjamin Flander, assist. prof. dr. Rok Hacin, prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assist. Urška Pirnat, Aleksander Podlogar, assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, prof. dr. Bojan Tičar, lect. Bernarda Tominc

International research projects

WITH KNOWLEDGE AGAINST BULLYING (2024 – 2027)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman
FCJS project member: assist. dr. Ajda Šulc, assist. prof. dr. Vanja Erčulj, assist. prof. dr.Tinkara Pavšič Mrevlje, assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež, prof. dr.Gorazd Meško, Nina Kržič, Violeta Malić

EMPOWERING SPECIALIZED LANGUAGE ACQUISITION WITH INTEGRATED AI (2024 – 2026)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Mojca Kompara Lukančič

FUTURESILIENCE: SLOVENIAN CYBER RESILIENCE LAB (2024 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan Mihelič
FCJS project member: assist. dr. Anže Mihelič

ESTABLISHING NETWORKS TO IMPLEMENT THE PRINCIPLES ON EFFECTIVE INTERVIEWING FOR INVESTIGATIONS (2023 – 2027)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Igor Areh

JOINT eSTORIES: JOURNEYS FROM FEAR TO FAIR – ERASMUS+ KA2 (2022 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež
FCJS project researcher: asist. Iza Kokoravec Povh
FCJS student project members: Barbara Gorenc, Andrea Davidović, Klara Hostnik, Nejc Kotnik
https://jointstories.eu

INTERNATIONAL SELF-REPORT DELINQUENCY STUDY 4 – ISRD4 (2020–2024)
Part od Research Programme »Security and safety in local communities – comparison between rural and urban settings«
FCJS project leader: Professor Gorazd Meško
FCJS project member: Iza Kokoravec
Slovenia – International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD) (isrdstudy.org)

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN NIGHTLIFE ENTERTAINMENT SPOTS: CONTROL AND PREVENTION – SHINE (2020 – 2022)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Katja Eman
FCJS project member: assist. Tinkara Bulovec

CULTURES OF VICTIMOLOGY: UNDERSTANDING PROCESSES OF VICTIMIZATION ACROSS EUROPE – COST ACTION CA18121 (2018 – 2023)
FCJS project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
FCJS project members: assist. prof. dr. Rok Hacin, assoc. prof. dr. Katja Eman, assist. Urška Pirant

POLICE STOPS - COST ACTION CA17102 (2018 – 2022)
FCJS project leader: assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic
FCJS project member: assoc. prof. dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman

DIGITAL SKILLS FOR INTEGRATION AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP- DISC (2018 – 2022)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež
FCJS project members: assoc. prof. dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman, assist. dr. Eva Bertok

IMPROVING FRONTLINE RESPONSES TO HIGH IMPACT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – IMPRODOVA (2018 – 2021)
FCJS project leader: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar
FCJS project members: assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, assist. prof. dr. Boštjan Slak, assist. Karmen Jereb

POLICE ACTIVITY IN RURAL SETTINGS AND RURAL CRIMINOLOGY – COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES (2019 – 2021)
Scientific research co-operation between Republic of Slovenia and United States of America
FCJS project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško

DESIGNING COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (COERS) FOR ASSETS-BASED COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION (ABCP) ACROSS EUROPE
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež
FCJS project members: assist. prof. dr. Boštjan Slak, asist. dr. Eva Bertok

Applied projects

A SECURE AND SOLIDARY FUTURE FOR ALL: ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST OLDER ADULTS (2024 – 2026)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan Mihelič
FCJS project members: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assist. Teja Primc

DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL AND PROTOTYPE OF A TECHNICAL SOLUTION TO MANAGE SECURITY PHENOMENA AT LOCAL LEVEL (2024 – 2026)
FCJS project leader: assist. prof. dr. Anže Mihelič
FCJS project members: prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan Mihelič, assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč

STRENGTHENING THE EXPERTISE AND SKILLS OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IN THE LOCAL AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON PREVENTION AGAINST THE USE OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES, AND ESTABLISHING AND STRENGTHENING THE POLICE'S COOPERATION WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY (2023 – 2026)
FCJS project leader: assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic
FCJS project member: assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assist. prof. dr. Boštjan Slak, prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, lect. Bernarda Tominc; assist. prof. dr. Tinkara Pavšič Mrevlje

A STRATEGIC PLANNING MODEL THAT INCLUDES MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN THE PROVISION OF INTERNAL SECURITY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION (2023 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar
FCJS project member: assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan Mihelič, assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assist. Teja Primc

»ONE HEALTH« AND CORPORATE SECURITY (2023 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč
FCJS project member: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar

ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL DISASTER RISKS IN THE AREAS OF OPERATION OF SLOVENIAN ARMY (2023 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Katja Eman
FCJS project member: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško

PROPOSAL FOR A MODEL OF A FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM FOR ADOLESCENTS IN SLOVENIA (2023 – 2025)
FCJS project leader: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar

ADEQUACY AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEMIC REGULATION OF PRIVATE SECURITY AND SECTORAL PROFESSIONAL INTEREST GROUPING IN THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA (2022 – 2024)
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar
FCJS project members: assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, lect. Bernarda Tominc

COMMUNITY POLICING (2022 – 2024)
Project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
FCJS project members: assoc. prof. dr. Katja Eman, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assist. prof. dr. Rok Hacin

AN EFFECTIVE APPEAL MECHANISM OVER THE WORK OF MUNICIPAL WARDENS, SECURITY GUARDS AND PRIVATE DETECTIVES (2021 – 2023)
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar
Project members: assist. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, lect. Bernarda Tominc

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE MODELS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, AND QUALITY OF POLICE WORK: AN OVERVIEW OF FOREIGN APPROACHES, GOOD PRACTICES, AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR SLOVENIA (2021 – 2023)
Project leader: assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan
Project members: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assist. prof. dr. Boštjan Slak, assist. Anže Mihelič

ANALYSIS OF ARCHITECTUAL SOLUTIONS IN SLOVENIAN CLINICS AND SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES (2019 – 2021)
FCJS project members: assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar

EFFICIENCY OF SYSTEMATIC CONTROL OVER POLICE IN REGARDS TO THEIR RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS WELL AS STATUTORY AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF POLICE WORK (2019 – 2021)
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Benjamin Flander
Project members: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, prof. dr. Bojan Tičar, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic

REGULATION COMPARISON OF PRIVATE SECURITY SUBJECTS IN SLOVENIA AND EU MEMBER STATES (2019 – 2021)
Project leader: assist. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč
Project members: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, assit. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan

RADICALISATION AND COMPREHENSIVE COUNTERMEASURES IN SLOVENIA (2018 – 2020)
FCJS project members: assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic

THE POLICE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OF THE LOCAL SAFETY/SECURITY PROVISION – PERSPECTIVES OF PLURAL POLICING IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES (2018 – 2020)
Project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
Project members: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar, assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, assist. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, lect. Bernarda Tominc

Basic projects

BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE – THE CYBERSECURITY COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK FOR OLDER ADULTS (2025 – 2027)
FCJS project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan Mihelič
FCJS project members: prof. dr. Igor Bernik, assist. prof. dr. Vanja Ida Erčulj, assist. prof. dr. Anže Mihelič, assist. dr. Ajda Šulc, assoc. prof. dr. Simon Vrhovec

e@ser | SECURE USE OF SMART DEVICES AMONG THE ELDERLY: TOWARDS EDUCATION-BASED CYBERCRIME PREVENTION (2021 – 2024)
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Simon Vrhovec
FCJS project members: prof. dr. Igor Bernik, assist. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, assist. Anže Mihelič

TRP MIG@B | MODELILLING OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT FLOWS IN THE BALKANS (2022 – 2025)
Project leader: prof. dr. igor Bernik
FCJS project members: assoc. prof. dr. Aleš Bučar Ručman

Other research projects

A GREEN AND RESILIENT TRANSITION FOR A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY (2022 – 2025)
FCJS leader: assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic
FCJS project members: prof. dr. Igor Bernik, assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč, assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež, assoc. prof. dr. Blaž Markelj, asist. Anže Mihelič, assoc. prof. dr. Kaja Prislan, assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar, lect. Bernarda Tominc, assoc. prof. dr. Simon Vrhovec

PROJECT TASK »STUDENT CHALLENGES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR« (2022 - 2022)
FCJS pedagogical mentors: prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar/assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar
FCJS project memebers: 8 students of FCJS

PROJECT WORK TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT 2022/2023 (2022 – 2023)
FCJS pedagogical mentor: assoc. prof. dr. Miha Dvojmoč
FCJS project memebers: 7 students of FCJS

THE REDESIGN OF MUNICIPAL SECURITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LJUBLJANA (2019 – 2020)
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Andrej Sotlar
Project members: assist. prof. dr. Maja Modic, prof. dr. Branko Lobnikar

SHORT AND LONG VISITS OF FOREIGN EXPERTS AND HIGHER EDUCATION TEACHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR IN YEARS 2019-2022
Project leader: assoc. prof. dr. Danijela Frangež

FCJS and its Institute carried out numerous research projects on national and international level:

  • SECURITY AND SAFETY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES (2015-2018); programme leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
  • CYBERCRIME, FEAR OF CYBERCRIME AND CONFIDENCE IN CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS (2018-2020); project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
  • LEGITIMACY AND LEGALITY OF POLICING, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND EXECUTION OF PENAL SANCTIONS (2013-2016); project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško
  • COOPERATION NETWORKS IN SLOVENE SCIENCE (2013-2016); project leader: prof. dr. Anuška Ferligoj; FCJS researcher: dr. Matevž Bren, associate professor
  • LEGITIMACY OF POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE – COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES - Scientific Research Programme between Republic of Slovenia and United States of America (2014-2015)
  • LEGITIMACY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PENAL SYSTEMS IN RUSSIA AND SLOVENIA – Scientific Research Programme between Republic of Slovenia and Russia (2014-2015)
  • LEGITIMACY OF POLICING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN SLOVENIA AND SERBIA - COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES – Scientific Research Programme between Republic of Slovenia and Serbia (2014-2015)
  • ARIEL - ASSESSING THE RISK OF THE INFILTRATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN EU MSS LEGITIMATE (2013-2015); project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško. More information
  • EFUS – EUROPEAN FORUM FOR URBAN SECURITY (from 2012). More information
  • URBIS - URBAN MANAGER FOR SECURITY, SAFETY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT (od 2012); project coordinator: Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency; project leader: prof. dr. Gorazd Meško.
  • environmental crime – criminological, crime preventive, psychological and legal aspects;
  • research on the prevention of crime in Slovenia (local level) and cooperation in CRIMPREV – assessing deviance, crime and prevention in Europe: new challenges and evolutions of crime and deviant behaviours in Europe;
  • project Daphne II (Pathways to Survive Stalking for Women Victims) was the first research on stalking, allowing for comparability of data within the European framework;
  • project Daphne III (Protecting Women from the New Crime of Stalking: a Comparison of Legislative Approaches within the EU), the first such research on the European level on legal issues of how to deal with stalking in EU;
  • a project of the Norwegian Institute of Urban and Regional Research: Conditionality, Corruption and Informal Institutions: an Analysis of Corruption in The Spheres of Public Procurement, Partly Funding, Lobbying and the Judiciary in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania;
  • protection of judges and courts;
  • analysses on the distribution patterns of some deviant behaviors in Ljubljana;
  • road traffic accident participants’ and road traffic code offenders’ assessments of and views on procedures performed by police officers;
  • property crime offenders’ assessments of and views on procedures performed by police officers and crime investigators;
  • border area residents’ assessments of and views on procedures performed by police officers at the Schengen border;
  • research on viewpoints on police work;
  • job satisfaction in the police;
  • research on road traffic accident participants’ and road traffic code offenders’ assessments and views;
  • police and private security companies in the process of providing internal safety and security; and
  • an analysis and amendments of the Slovenian education system while discussing violence issues in the light of drug abuse.
  • University of Maribor
    Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security
    Kotnikova 8, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • fvv@um.si
  • +386 1 3008 300