2022
Francis T. Cullen
Society’s responses to crime through rehabilitation, with strong evidence of what works.
Cullen was lauded for his research on the rehabilitation of criminals. His work has shown that well-designed, evidence-based rehabilitation programmes, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can reduce recidivism and be more effective than punishment. He demonstrates that functioning relationships with family, friends, and the community are crucial to helping offenders leave a life of crime. He has also contributed to the development of several criminal theories on the causes of crime.Francis T. Cullen
Born 1951 in the US. Francis T. Cullen was professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati’s School of Criminal Justice (United States) at the time of the award.
Showed that evidence-based treatment intervention in prison, rather than incarceration per se, prevents repeat offending.Showed that evidence-based treatment intervention in prison, rather than incarceration per se, prevents repeat offending.
Rehabilitation as a tool against recidivism
Francis T. Cullen was awarded the 2022 Stockholm Prize in Criminology for his research on the prevention of recidivism with evidence-based rehabilitation programmes.
Through his extensive research, Cullen has expanded our understanding of what reduces recidivism. He has shown how evidence-based rehabilitation programmes can play a crucial role in helping people move away from crime. Cullen has also been a strong advocate for basing crime prevention on scientific know-ledge and effective treatment – not solely on punishment.
Rehabilitation can break the criminal cycle
Cullen’s research showed that while incarceration alone does not reduce the risk of recidivism, the right kind of treatment and rehabilitation programmes during and after prison terms can be highly effective in preventing a reversion to criminal activity upon release.
Cullen’s research in this area was particularly important during the ‘nothing works’ era, when researchers and politicians were convinced that recidivism could not be prevented. He is associated with ‘the return of rehabilitation‘. Through the rigorous analyses of research, Cullen and other scholars showed that there are indeed ways to prevent recidivism, both in prisons and post-release. He has also highlighted the importance of criminal policy not only being effective, but also ethically defensible and socially sustainable.