VARIOS AUTORES
In the past years the history of criminal law has gained growing importance within the vast scope of legal history. The research of the Max-Planck-Institute for European Legal History reflects this development in many respects: Since the directorship of Prof. Dr. Michael Stolleis the history of public law blossomed as a new area of research including such topics as penal law, police ordinances and norm enforcement. They constitute the core of a specific research field and a research group led by the signer that deals with the history of criminal law and criminal justice between the late Middle Ages and the modern age. Accordingly the Max-Planck-Institute for European Legal History has expanded its respective collections - in particular the writings of the ius commune jurists within the field of criminal law - and has intensified the co-operation with researchers who study the history of penal law and criminal justice. These researchers from all over the world do not only use the library but also present and discuss their topics, approaches and insights in colloquia, workshops and meetings with the researcher