The School on Crime and Technology: Controversial Presents, (Un)likely Futures took place from June 4 to 6, 2025, at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho. The school brought together participants from different disciplinary backgrounds – namely law, sociology, and other social sciences – and at various stages of their academic and professional careers, including lecturers, PhD and Master’s students, and researchers.
The school aimed to provide a training space and a forum for critical dialogue on the increasing incorporation of technologies into criminal justice systems. It featured ten sessions with invited speakers of recognized experience from a range of disciplinary fields. The sessions were organized around four main thematic axes: (1) technology and criminal investigation; (2) courts and public policy; (3) youth-perpetrated crimes; and (4) prisons, reentry, and electronic monitoring.
Over the course of three days, participants were invited to critically reflect on the challenges, ethical dilemmas, and sociotechnical transformations that emerge at the intersection of technology, science, and criminal justice. In addition to the scientific content, practical activities were held to promote a more applied approach, sensitive to contemporary realities.
The school also included social moments designed to foster the creation and strengthening of academic and professional networks among participants.
