Jury and nominations

Jerzy Sarnecki, co-chair of the jury

Lawrence W. Sherman, co-chair of the jury

An independent international jury receives nominations and proposes a winner. The jury is comprised of internationally renowned researchers, including former laureates. Professors Jerzy Sarnecki and Lawrence W. Sherman have served as co-chairs of the jury since its inception.

The jury is comprised of eleven members from different countries, all of whom are researchers or specialised in the application of research findings. The jury makes an independent proposal for the prize winner, selected from a pool of candidates nominated in the prescribed manner. The jury, which works pro bono, meets annually in Stockholm the day prior to the Stockholm Criminology Symposium and decides on its proposal for next year’s laureate. The jury also holds additional meetings in person or online as needed.

Selection process for the prize

The process for selecting the laureate begins with nominations submitted by criminological associations, research institutes, or individual researchers from around the world. During the meetings, the jury’s discussion is focused mainly on the people on this short list, During the meetings, the jury’s discussion is focused mainly on the people on this short list, although the jury may decide to include other nominees in its deliberations. Following its deliberations, the jury takes its decision by repeated ballot votes and then by acclamation. The nominee must be a living, natural person who is willing and able to be awarded the Stockholm Prize in Criminology in person at Stockholm City Hall and to give a lecture during the Stockholm Criminology Symposium. The Stockholm Prize in Criminology Foundation makes the final decision on the winner, the prize amount to be awarded, and the time and place for announcing the winner.

Jury members, 2025

The jury is comprised of professors and experts in the application of criminology to public policy:

Beatriz Abizanda (Uruguay)
Susanne Karstedt (Australia)
Candace Kruttschnitt (Canada)
Friedrich Lösel (Germany)
Tiyanjana Maluwa (South Africa)
Peter William Neyroud (Switzerland/Great Britain)
Emil W. Plywaczewski (Poland)
Jerzy Sarnecki (Sweden)
Lawrence W. Sherman (Great Britain/United States)
Hiroshi Tsutomi (Japan)
David Weisburd (United States/Israel)

Previous jury members

Lola Aniyar de Castro (Venezuela)
David Farrington (Great Britain)
Peter Nils Grabosky (Australia)
Katalin Gönczöl (Hungary)
Hans-Jürgen Kerner (Germany)
Britta Kyvsgaard (Denmark)
Letitzia Paoli (Belgium)
Terrie E. Moffitt (United States/Great Britain)
Daniel Ortega (Venezuela)
Joan Petersilia (Unites States)

The jury’s work is administered by Stockholm University.

Nominations

Nominations may be made by any three individual criminologists, any society of criminology and/or other organization applying or producing criminology, or by expert nominators selected by the jury.

The nominee must be a living physical person, willing and able to receive the Stockholm Prize in Criminology in person and give an acceptance speech on the date required.

The nomination period for the 2027 years award ends on May 15 2026.

All nominations goes through Stockholm University’s website.