Johann Koehler

Johann Koehler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he joined in 2019. His work focuses on the historical and contemporary intersections of criminal justice policy with scientific evidence. Key areas of expertise include crime and justice, evidence-based policy, mixed methods research, and punishment control mechanisms.

Dr. Koehler holds a JD and PhD in Jurisprudence & Social Policy from the University of California–Berkeley and an MPhil in Criminology from the University of Cambridge. His research examines three core themes: the historical development of evidence-based criminal justice policies, practical steps to align criminal justice with empirical evidence, and the ethical implications of evidence-driven policy frameworks.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on policing, security, globalization (SP473) and crime, justice, and social policy (SP477). His ongoing book project explores the historical sociology of evidence-based criminal justice reforms in the UK and US.

Recent publications analyze topics such as custodial vs. community-based offender rehabilitation, policing histories in Chicago and New York, and the theoretical underpinnings of criminological thought. While focused on academic rigor, his work also interrogates how 'evidence-based' approaches shape—and are shaped by—broader sociopolitical contexts.

No specific scientific awards or funded grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials. His research collaborations and lab affiliations remain unmentioned, though his work clearly engages with interdisciplinary teams across legal, sociological, and policy domains.