I am a researcher in criminal law and legal philosophy at the University of Helsinki. In my research, I focus particularly on the conception of human nature upon which criminal responsibility and punishment are based. Criminal law requires that people have the capacity to understand the content of the law and act in accordance with its requirements, but in reality, people’s abilities vary considerably.
In my dissertation, I examined these underlying assumptions about human nature that shape criminal law. Currently, I am developing a normative model in my research that would better account for people’s varying capacities for responsible behaviour. My research lies at the intersection of criminal law, philosophy of law, and criminal policy.
I have conducted research and served as a visiting scholar at several internationally renowned universities, particularly the University of Cambridge. International research networks have been an important part of my research career and have provided an opportunity to examine fundamental questions of criminal law from the perspectives of different legal systems.
In addition to research, I am interested in the social significance of science and how research findings could be more strongly integrated into public discourse and decision-making. I believe that the role of legal scholarship is not only to explain existing law, but also to critically evaluate it and identify the social and legal structures that may undermine people’s ability to exercise their rights and act as full members of society.