Bio

In 2016, I received my masters in criminal law (cum laude). I started working as a lecturer in criminal law at Tilburg University, where I successfully applied for a PhD-student scholarship in 2017. My PhD research concerned the human rights implications of coercive brain-reading in criminal law. In this context, I visited the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics of the University of Oxford in 2019, twice for a month. On 4 November 2021, I defended my thesis successfully and received the doctoral degree (cum laude).

As of November 2021, I am continuing my research as Assistant Professor at Tilburg University and, as of December 2021, as postdoc at Utrecht University on the NWO Vici-grant 'Targeting the offender's brain. A unified normative framework for the evaluation of neurotechniques in criminal justice' (2021-2026)

Courses

Collaboration

Postdoc, Utrecht University, NWO Vici-grant 'Law and Ethics of Neurotechnology in Criminal Justice (LENC, https://lenc.sites.uu.nl)

Co-promotor, Vera Tesink, Targeting the offender’s brain: An ethical framework for the evaluation of neurotechniques in criminal justice (VU Amsterdam)

Co-promotor, Alexandra Ziaka, Freedom of thought in the realm of new and emerging technologies: A right in danger? (Tilburg University) 

Co-promotor, Thijs Steenhuijsen, Better safe than sorry? A study on the legitimacy and limitations of risk-based criminal sanctioning (Tilburg University) 

Recent publications

  1. Ethiek en recht bij toepassing van nieuwe technologie in de forensisc…

    Kip, H., Ligthart, S., & Meynen, G. (2024). Ethiek en recht bij toepassing van nieuwe technologie in de forensische psychiatrie. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie.
  2. Freedom of thought: Absolute protection of mental privacy and mental …

    Ligthart, S., & van de Pol, N. (Accepted/In press). Freedom of thought: Absolute protection of mental privacy and mental integrity? Considering the case of neurotechnology in criminal justice. In The Cambridge handbook of freedom of thought Cambridge University Press.
  3. Kwetsbare slachtoffers als grondslag voor strafverzwaring? - Naar ver…

    Ligthart, S. (2024). Kwetsbare slachtoffers als grondslag voor strafverzwaring? Naar verheldering van “kwetsbaarheid” in het materiële strafrecht. Delikt en Delinkwent.
  4. Mental privacy as part of the human right to freedom of thought?

    Ligthart, S. (Accepted/In press). Mental privacy as part of the human right to freedom of thought? In M. Blitz, & J. C. Bublitz (Eds.), The law and ethics of freedom of thought : Cognitive liberty and privacy (Vol. 2). Palgrave Macmillan.
  5. Towards a human right to psychological continuity? - Reflections on t…

    Ligthart, S. (Accepted/In press). Towards a human right to psychological continuity? Reflections on the rights to personal identity, self-determination, and personal integrity. European Convention on Human Rights Law Review.

Find an expert or expertise