The Role of Corporations in Criminal Justice – an Introduction

Abstract

In the corporative turn of criminal justice, most focus is spent on how to shape criminal, quasi-criminal or para-criminal liability of corporations. However, corporations are not only suspects and accused in criminal proceedings, they are also victims of crime. Their premises may be searched and their property may be seized in criminal proceedings against third parties; and they may be required to respond, as non-accused third parties and in witnesses-like situations, to requests for information. And corporations may even play investigatory or adjudicatory roles in criminal justice. In this introductory contribution and on the background of the general design and the general aims of criminal law and criminal procedure (1.), I will discern four roles (2.) and highlight five common themes of corporate involvement in criminal justice (3.).