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BY-LAWS

ESC Code of Conduct

European Society of Criminology · Explanatory background, and the text adopted by the General Assembly in Warsaw on 11 September 2026

Background: creation of an ESC bylaw to support a Code of Conduct for ESC activities

According to the ESC Constitution, the Executive Board has the authority to expel members under two specific conditions. As outlined in Section 5: Membership, members can be expelled for either:

  • Not paying their dues despite reminders; or
  • Committing a violation of the bylaws or professional ethics, or if their behaviour brings dishonour to the Association.

This highlights that a Code of Conduct should be formally established through the creation or amendment of a bylaw, as it is the bylaws that provide the framework for handling infringements of professional ethics or behaviour.

Furthermore, Section 6: The General Assembly specifies that any bylaw must be approved by the General Assembly through a simple majority vote of the members present. This ensures that any significant code or regulation that governs member conduct is subjected to broad discussion and approval by the ESC membership.

Following approval by the General Assembly in Athens 2025 that the Executive Board develop a Code of Conduct for ESC conferences and the Society as a whole, the Code of Conduct drafted by the Executive Board was placed on the agenda of the General Assembly in Warsaw 2026 and adopted on 11 September 2026. It is set out below.

 

ESC Code of Conduct

European Society of Criminology · Adopted 11 September 2026

Status. Adopted by the General Assembly of the European Society of Criminology, held in Warsaw on 11 September 2026 during the 2026 ESC Annual Conference (Eurocrim 2026), as a by-law under Section 6 of the ESC Constitution. It applies to ESC activities commencing after the conclusion of that conference.

Purpose of the Code of Conduct

The European Society of Criminology (ESC) is committed to promoting an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and the encouragement of diversity to cultivate a productive, positive, inclusive, equitable, respectful, and safe environment that benefits all participants in ESC activities, including ESC members and non-members.

The Code of Conduct reflects the specific objectives of the ESC to foster criminological scholarship, and encourage scholarly, scientific and practical exchange and cooperation. It is designed to reinforce the norms of mutual respect necessary to promote these objectives.

To these ends, this Code sets out basic principles of professional conduct that all participants in ESC activities shall follow:

  • ensure all participants are treated with fairness and respect;
  • provide a scholarly environment which respects values and differences and promotes dignity, equality, and diversity;
  • uphold and reinforce the norms of professional regard necessary to promote respect and free academic exchange; and
  • ensure that all participants enjoy a welcoming environment free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Working relationships

Participants in ESC activities shall promote a respectful working environment and conduct professional relationships conducive to:

  • the advancement and dissemination of criminological knowledge;
  • the protection and enhancement of intellectual freedom; and
  • the creation of free, independent, and sound criminological inquiry.

Expected conduct

Under this Code, participants in ESC activities shall behave professionally, treat everyone with respect, listen to other people’s views and engage constructively with them, and set examples of good and professional conduct. They shall avoid all forms of discrimination, harassment, oppression, aggression, or bullying, and refrain from such behaviour at all ESC activities.

Unacceptable conduct

Participants in ESC activities shall refrain from the following on any grounds:

  • the use of violent, threatening or intimidating physical or verbal actions aimed at others;
  • the use of condescending or disruptive conduct which does not allow others to speak, or marginalises them;
  • the bullying and harassment of others (including through verbal comments relating to gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, institutional affiliation, or other protected statuses);
  • sexual harassment.

Any such unacceptable behaviour shall not be tolerated at ESC activities.

Retaliation against any person for making a report under this Code, assisting another person making a report, or participating in any review or proceeding under this Code also constitutes a violation of this Code.

Application

This Code will be upheld during all ESC activities so that all participants are able to enjoy a welcoming and respectful environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. ESC activities include the annual conferences, meetings, and formal and informal social events, whether online or in person.

The Code of Conduct applies to all participants in ESC activities, including but not limited to ESC event attendees, participants in scientific sessions, students, staff, guests and exhibitors.

Compliance with the Code

By registering for ESC activities, including the annual Eurocrim conferences, all participants agree to:

  • abide by this Code and comply with its provisions in all activities undertaken in connection with ESC activities;
  • comply with decisions and measures taken in accordance with this Code;
  • comply with instructions given by the organisers and by staff responsible for safe and orderly conduct during ESC activities.

This Code is without prejudice to any rules, policies, or guidelines applicable at the venue of an ESC activity, including those imposed by host universities or other institutions. Participants shall comply with such local requirements in addition to this Code.

Reporting

Alleged violations regarding conduct should be reported directly to the ESC Board or a designated person within the Board. Specific reporting arrangements for confidential reporting will be made available for each Annual Conference.

Reports should provide, as far as possible, the relevant facts, dates and circumstances.

Immediate measures

Where it is necessary to protect participants or to ensure safe and orderly conduct of an ESC activity, the organisers or the persons designated by the Board may take immediate measures. These may include giving instructions to participants, restricting contact between participants, or removing a person from a session or activity.

Such measures are de-escalatory and do not in themselves constitute a finding that this Code has been violated.

Review of reports

The Board shall designate a committee of three impartial persons (e.g. former Presidents of the ESC) to review a report, and where necessary, obtain further information.

Before a conclusion that misconduct has occurred is reached, the person concerned shall be informed of the allegations and given a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Where the committee concludes that a violation has occurred, the committee shall propose appropriate sanctions to the Executive Board.

Decisions and sanctions

The Executive Board shall decide whether a violation has occurred.

Where violation of this Code is established, the Executive Board may take one or more of the following measures, proportionate to the seriousness and circumstances of the conduct:

  • an informal or formal reprimand
  • conditions or restrictions on participation in ESC activities
  • exclusion from specific future ESC activities for a defined period
  • in the case of an ESC member, exclusion from membership by decision of the Executive Board in accordance with Section 5 of the ESC Constitution.

Where any of the sanctions listed in points 1-3 are imposed on an ESC member, the Executive Board shall ensure that its implementation does not impede their rights attached to ESC membership.

In determining the appropriate response, account shall be taken of the seriousness and impact of the conduct, whether it was repeated or continuing, whether there were any previous violations of this Code, and any other relevant circumstances.

A person on whom any of the measures listed in points 1 to 4 is imposed may ask the Executive Board, in writing and within thirty days of being notified of the decision, to reconsider it.

A member excluded from membership shall be informed of their right to appeal to the General Assembly under Section 5 of the ESC Constitution. The appeal shall be submitted to the Executive Board within thirty days of notification of the decision excluding the member or, if reconsideration has been requested, of the decision maintaining the exclusion. The Executive Board shall place the appeal on the agenda of the next General Assembly and ensure that sufficient time is allocated for its consideration. The decision of the General Assembly shall be final.

Conflict of interest

Any person involved in receiving, reviewing, investigating or deciding a matter under this Code shall act impartially, and shall not participate where they are directly involved with the matter, have a personal or professional relationship with any person concerned, or have any other conflict of interest that would reasonably call their impartiality into question.

Any potential conflict of interest shall be disclosed without undue delay. Where the person concerned is a member of the Executive Board, the remaining non-conflicted members of the Board shall determine whether that member may participate. In the case of any other person designated under this Code, the Executive Board shall determine whether they may continue to participate.

Entry into force

This Code of Conduct shall be adopted upon approval by the General Assembly. It shall apply only to ESC activities commencing after the conclusion of the annual conference at which it is adopted.

Adopted by the General Assembly, Warsaw, 11 September 2026 · Version 1.0