Nora Markwalder, former prosecutor and professor of criminal law and criminology at the University of St. Gallen, joins me to unpack how Switzerland’s criminal justice system really works. Drawing on her deep experience across criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and criminology, Nora explains what happens from the moment a crime is investigated all the way to sentencing.
Expect to learn how Switzerland’s justice system compares to countries like France, Germany, and the U.S., why rehabilitation is prioritized over punishment, and how the controversial juvenile justice framework operates. Nora also discusses what life is like inside Swiss prisons, how criminal records affect future employment, and the ways Switzerland handles international and immigration-related legal cases. If you’re curious about Swiss law, justice philosophy, or crime trends, this conversation is packed with insights.
CONTACT NORA
linkedin.com/in/nora-markwalder-4277765b
CONTACT MIKE
https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/
TRANSCRIPT
https://howitticks.ch/podcast/justice-in-switzerland/
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Why Nora chose criminal law and her journey from prosecution to academia
03:00 How the Swiss criminal justice process works: investigation to sentencing
07:30 Key differences between Swiss and common law systems
12:00 Why incarceration is rare in Switzerland and how monetary penalties work
16:00 How rehabilitation is prioritized over punishment
24:00 What prison life looks like in Switzerland and different levels of prison security