Fernando Avila

Fernando Avila is an Assistant Professor of Critical Criminology at the Department of Sociology, Brock University. His interdisciplinary research focuses on decolonial criminology, carceral systems in the Global South, and the intersection of technology with criminal justice. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and degrees from institutions in Argentina, including an LLM in Criminal Law and an LLB in Law.

• Education:
  • PhD in Criminology, University of Toronto (Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies)
  • MA in Criminology, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina
  • LLM in Criminal Law, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina
  • LLB in Law, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina

Research Interests

Avila’s work critically examines punitive governance, prison abolitionism, and the ethical implications of AI in criminal justice. He explores:

• Decarceration: Alternative models of prison governance (e.g., Punta de Rieles in Uruguay) that challenge traditional carceral logics.
• Technology: How AI and big data perpetuate racialized surveillance and structural inequalities in policing.
• Global South: Punishment systems, postcolonial criminology, and justice reforms in Latin America.

Research Trends

His publications (2020–2025) highlight:

• Critical analysis of algorithmic fairness in criminal justice systems.
• Case studies on participatory governance in Uruguayan prisons.
• Connections between carceral expansion and postcolonial power structures.

Collaborations

Avila collaborates with NGOs and governments on justice reform initiatives, advocating for reduced reliance on punitive systems. He employs ethnography, interviews, and policy analysis in his research.