Gorazd Meško is welcomed to the podcast to discuss the history of criminology in Slovenia. He begins by addressing the multifaceted definition of criminology, highlighting early criminal law definitions from the 1950s and more provocative contemporary views. He also touches on multidisciplinarity and the impact of criminological research on policy-making.

Meško traces the institutionalization of criminology in Slovenia back to the mid-1950s with the establishment of the Institute of Criminology. He mentions earlier influences, such as a proto-criminologist judge in 1917 and a Russian scientist who established a criminological school in Ljubljana in the 1920s. He highlights the unique origin of the Institute, founded by researchers who moved from the Ministry of Interior to the university to ensure independent research.

Meško discusses the history of the Journal of Criminal Investigation and Criminology, which evolved from a classified internal newsletter in the 1950s. He emphasizes its recognition in Web of Science and Scopus, a rare achievement for a non-English journal, and its role in publishing groundbreaking Slovenian criminological research.

Meško shares his institution's journey, starting at the Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, and their focus on empirical and international comparative research. He highlights the transformative impact of the Crim Prev project (2006-2009), a European Union-funded initiative that fostered international collaboration and significantly boosted their research capabilities and publications.

The discussion shifts to the role of language in Slovenian criminology, noting that Slovenian was primarily used while acknowledging a Croatian textbook published for wider reach in the former Yugoslavia. Meško emphasizes the historical importance of librarians in facilitating research and literature reviews, contrasting this with the modern era of online access and its challenges, such as the decline in reading comprehensive books.

Meško outlines the various criminology programs in Slovenia, primarily at the Faculty of Law and his own Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security. He discusses the debate on bachelor's versus master's programs in criminology, highlighting the challenges of diverse student backgrounds and the need for comprehensive exams in PhD programs. He also mentions the unique approach of inviting practitioners to teach.

Meško details his institution's commitment to research-based teaching, involving students in research projects at all levels. He emphasizes the importance of applying research to improve practical outcomes, such as in prison administration. He also reflects on the challenges of influencing policy-making, noting that academic research often competes with media narratives and political interests, leading to limited impact.

Meško identifies key challenges for Slovenian criminology, including post-COVID normalization, changing crime patterns, and social issues like youth depression and migration. He stresses the need to invest in young scholars and foster their potential. He shares his own career trajectory, an unplanned journey into academia, and the privilege of working with young minds and international collaborators.

Meško explains the goals behind establishing the Institute of Criminology in Ljubljana, emphasizing the desire for independent, academic research detached from government control. He highlights the advanced nature of Slovenian criminology compared to other republics in Yugoslavia, advocating for a humanistic approach and refuting the notion of no crime in socialist countries.

Meško discusses changes in crime patterns over his lifetime, noting a shift from property crimes where stolen goods were often returned to an increased tolerance for economic crimes and crimes by social elites. He observes a rise in police and private security presence despite crime rate fluctuations, suggesting a 'McDonaldization' of social control. He contrasts the previous system's informal social controls with current formal mechanisms.

Meško details the significant progress in addressing domestic violence in Slovenia, evolving from victim-blaming to a professional, victim-centered approach over 30 years. He notes a shift in prison populations, with drug-related offenses replacing alcohol abuse as the primary issue. He also discusses the impact of foreigners, particularly due to human trafficking, on prison demographics and the continued use of suspended sentences in Slovenia.