Jo-Anne Wemmers

Jo-Anne Wemmers is a Full Professor at the School of Criminology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal. She leads the research team 'Victims, Rights and Society' at the Centre International de Criminologie Comparée (CICC) and co-directs the Legal Clinic for Victims of Criminal Acts. Her research focuses on victimology, criminal justice, restorative justice, and international crimes. Key interests include victim perceptions of justice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and transitional justice in post-conflict societies.

Education:

• PhD in Criminology, Université de Leyde (1996)
• MA in Psychology, Université de Leyde (1989)
• Bachelor of Arts (Distinction) in Psychology, McGill University (1985)

Research Interests: Wemmers explores victimization dynamics, both nationally and internationally, with a focus on retributive and restorative justice. She examines how victims perceive justice and the role of therapeutic jurisprudence in legal processes. Her work bridges theoretical and applied criminology, addressing systemic gaps in victim support and policy.

Recent Article Trends: Her publications emphasize victims' needs in transitional justice contexts, reconciliation in settler colonial societies, and the psychological impacts of legal processes on victims and practitioners. She critiques and proposes reforms to victim-centric policies, particularly in international criminal law frameworks.

Awards:

• World Society of Victimology Certificate of Appreciation (2015)

Advising & Grants: Supervised over 30 PhD and Master's students, focusing on victimology, transitional justice, and criminological analysis. Secured major grants including the SSHRC Partnership on Strengthening Justice for International Crimes and the Canadian Partnership on International Justice. Her projects often involve cross-disciplinary collaboration with legal, psychological, and socio-political experts.

Labs/Teams: Active in the CICC and the Legal Clinic for Victims of Criminal Acts, which provide victims with legal support while training future professionals in victim-centered approaches. Also contributes to the International Review of Victimology as an editor.