Conceptualizations of the Notion of Criminal Justice Through the Mitigation of the Migration Experience: The Case of Syrian Refugee Incomers to Greece

Our study aims at exhibiting the various meanings attributed to the notion of criminal law and criminal justice by migrant social actors living in two different socio-cultural environments: the environment of their country of origin and the environment of their host country. The data provided are based on a qualitative research conducted in Syrian refugee population living in Athens. The field took place during the second semester of 2019. The research is a joint-project undertaken by the National Center for Social Research (Athens, Greece) and the Center for the Study of Crime (Athens, Greece). The research initiative has focused on the Syrian refugee population in Greece, since Syrians have not only submitted the most asylum applications in this country between 2013-2018 but they also have the highest rate of recognition as beneficiaries of international protection. As a result, it is expected that this great majority of refugee population will reside in Greece for a long time, and so, they are expected to conform, together with the natives, to their host country’s laws and regulations. To this end their perceptions of the legal system and important legal institutions are of great importance, in that they guide behaviors. In this respect they also facilitate or burden social integration to the new and host socio-cultural environments. In this context, in our present study, some initial remarks and findings of the qualitative research conducted through in-depth interviews are presented, in order to provide a meaningful understanding of refugees’ notions and attitudes on what is permitted and/or forbidden in both: their country of origin and their host country. It is generally anticipated that our findings—although emanated from a case study and therefore are not suitable for generalizations—may broaden our understanding of the immigration-integration issue with respect to foreigners’ legal inclusion and enrich the respective public debate.