2014
Joan Petersilia
Society’s responses to crime through imprisonment and measures taken after release from prison.
Petersilia was lauded for her research on re-entry of prison inmates into the community, and serious crime recidivism resulting in returns to prison. Her research has shown, among other things, that the post-release situation for ex-prisoners has an impact on the risk of recidivism and requires much more investment to prevent re-incarceration. She also made significant contributions to prison reforms in California, resulting in a reduction in the state’s prison population.Joan Petersilia
Born 1951 in the US. Joan Petersilia was professor at Stanford University (United States) at the time of the award.
Showed that post-release rehabilitation can work, but only with enough support.Showed that post-release rehabilitation can work, but only with enough support.
Fighting crime through reintegration
Joan Petersilia was awarded the 2014 Stockholm Prize in Criminology for her research on how prison sentences and probation can be designed to reduce the risk of recidivism and promote effective reintegration into society.
Her work has been instrumental in transforming the utilisation of prisons and probation services based on evidence of what works – and what doesn’t.
Petersilia’s research on repeat offenders contributed to the expansion of efforts in the United States, and particularly California, to support ex-convicts during the high-risk period directly following their release from prison – when they may have nowhere to live and no job to work.
Galvanised American penal reform
At the time of the award, Petersilia had spent over 30 years studying the effectiveness of probation, parole, prison and other penal authorities in the United States. Her research shed light on issues including the devastating consequences – for offenders, families, and communities – of the massive increase in the American prison population during those decades.
Petersilia played a key role in influencing sentencing and prison reforms in California, where she worked as an ‘embedded criminologist’ and with other states. Her work helped to unify the policy analysis of prison sentences, probation, recidivism, and resentencing. Based on this analysis, she proposed evidence-based alternatives to the current sentencing system.