Het artikel dat mensenhandel strafbaar stelt, artikel 273f Wetboek van Strafrecht, is complex. De rechtspraktijk worstelt met zijn uitleg, in de literatuur wordt de bepaling een ‘gedrocht’ genoemd... Show moreHet artikel dat mensenhandel strafbaar stelt, artikel 273f Wetboek van Strafrecht, is complex. De rechtspraktijk worstelt met zijn uitleg, in de literatuur wordt de bepaling een ‘gedrocht’ genoemd.Wat is er aan de hand met de strafbaarstelling van mensenhandel? Wat is haar strekking en welke invloed heeft de Hoge Raad daarop in de afgelopen jaren uitgeoefend? In dit onderzoek worden de achtergronden van de strafbaarstelling van mensenhandel uitgeplozen. Niet alleen door het uitvoeren van verdiepend juridisch-historisch onderzoek, ook door de verschillende mensenhandelgedragingen stuk voor stuk theoretisch te belichten en de rechtspraak te analyseren. Met behulp van het rechtstheoretische concept van de rechtsbelangen wordt blootgelegd dat met de strafbaarstelling van mensenhandel zeer uiteenlopende doelen worden gediend. Dat geeft te denken over de wijze waarop de bepaling momenteel is ingericht en functioneert. Dit onderzoek leidt tot de conclusie dat de huidige stand van zaken schuurt met belangrijke beginselen van de democratische rechtsstaat, zoals de notie van rechtszekerheid en de leer van de machtenscheiding (trias politica). De onwenselijkheid daarvan geeft aanleiding om de strafbaarstelling opnieuw te overdenken. Voor de strafwetgever is er werk aan de winkel. Show less
The study at hand focuses on the control of sex and youngsters through the response by authorities most notably from within criminal justice. This dissertation consists of five articles and a... Show moreThe study at hand focuses on the control of sex and youngsters through the response by authorities most notably from within criminal justice. This dissertation consists of five articles and a concluding chapter. The emphasis of this study is on the societal interests as protected by the authorities. This approach provides a useful complement to more conventional research on sexual abuse and sexual transgression. In a lot of studies the behavior of individuals receives most attention and not the response by authorities, which can be indicative of the way authorities envision the organization of society. It is this organization through the control of youth and sex that sets this study apart from other studies. Show less
This study focuses on the use of witness testimony in Dutch criminal procedure and looks at whether the existing framework for criminal procedure and modes of operation in criminal legal practice... Show moreThis study focuses on the use of witness testimony in Dutch criminal procedure and looks at whether the existing framework for criminal procedure and modes of operation in criminal legal practice require adaptation in light of truth-finding. Determining the credibility of witness testimony in a criminal legal context is to an important extent, steered by factors about which non-legal disciplines can provide more insight. This study maps and connects the different insights. The collected insights subsequently offer a framework to further review the statutory procedures and modes of operation in practice with regards to the production and assessment of witness testimony. Because of the strong accentuation of written documents Dutch criminal justice is under suspicion of not having the right instruments at its disposal to optimally test the content of testimony and therewith adequately guarantee the quality of criminal legal truth-finding. This study shows that in practice, there are a number of weaknesses in the manner in which witness testimony is handled and that the judicial decision in this regard is a risky decision. Besides the fact that the aspect of production remains underexposed in the process of assessment, it may be established that the judge hardly has any purchase in statutory law or legal doctrine for the assessment of witness testimony. Recommendations are made to adapt Dutch legal procedure and some practical modes of operation. Show less
