2025
Frances Crook
Society’s responses to crime through the use of harsh punishments.
Frances Crook was recognised as a practitioner applying criminology in her work on criminal justice reforms in the United Kingdom. As Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, she made outstanding use of criminological research to reduce disproportionate sentences and promote more humane and effective sentencing methods. Her efforts have resulted in significant changes in the United Kingdom’s legal system, including a major reduction in the imprisonment of children and young offenders and improving conditions for all prisoners.Frances Crook
Born 1952 in the UK. Frances Crook was an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Leicester (United Kingdom) at the time of the award.
Showed that UK society can succeed, with relentless campaigning, in reducing the detention and imprisonment of children.Showed that UK society can succeed, with relentless campaigning, in reducing the detention and imprisonment of children.
From imprisonment to rehabilitation
Frances Crook was awarded the 2025 Stockholm Prize in Criminology for her work in reducing the extent of disproportionate sentences and promoting rehabilitation in the United Kingdom’s legal system.
Through the practical application of criminological research, Crook has demonstrated how policy reforms can reduce the imprisonment of young people and create fairer, more humane sentencing systems.
Focus on rehabilitation
As head of the world’s oldest criminal justice reform organisation, Crook has successfully lowered the incidence of cruel and disproportionate punishment in the United Kingdom. Her work, which is focused on both policy and individuals, has among other things reduced youth imprisonment in favour of rehabilitation.
Reduced imprisonment of children
Crook led the United Kingdom’s Howard League for Penal Reform for 35 years (1986–2021). Based in part on Crook’s work, the number of minors housed in prison declined 85 per cent, from 3,500 to 500, over that period. She also analysed police arrest data for children and juveniles, working systematically to reduce this number. The annual number of arrests of children over that time period dropped 80 per cent.
Crook criticised the privatisation of prisons and stressed the importance of treating prisoners with dignity and respect. She argued that prison sentences often reinforce social and economic inequalities and advocated a smaller, more ethical and compassionate prison system.