Franz von Liszt was a German jurist and criminologist who became one of the leading figures of the so-called “modern school” of criminal law at the turn of the 20th century. He rejected the purely retributive notion of punishment and argued for a criminology-informed legal system that would address the causes of crime and focus on prevention. Von Liszt’s approach combined legal scholarship with emerging criminological and sociological research, making him a pioneer in integrating interdisciplinary perspectives into penal reform.
Von Liszt played a decisive role in the shift from classical criminal law to a more sociologically oriented and preventive penal policy. His work emphasized the need for individualized sentencing, rehabilitation, and crime prevention, influencing both academic discourse and practical criminal justice reforms in Germany and beyond. He also contributed to international criminal law initiatives and was instrumental in founding criminological societies.
