Jonathan Simon

Jonathan Simon is the Lance Robbins Professor of Criminal Justice Law at Berkeley Law, University of California, Berkeley. He is affiliated with the Center for the Study of Law & Society and has been a leading scholar in criminal justice reform, mass incarceration, and the intersection of law and society. Simon holds a J.D. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, alongside an A.B. from UC Berkeley.

• Education:
• A.B., University of California, Berkeley (1981)
• J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1987)
• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1990)

His research focuses on the role of crime in governance, penal policy, and systemic racism within criminal justice systems. Simon has authored influential books like Governing through Crime (2007) and Mass Incarceration on Trial (2014), and co-edited the Sage Handbook of Punishment & Society. He has received prestigious awards, including the Hindelang Award and honorary doctorates, for his contributions to legal scholarship.

Simon’s work critiques punitive populism and advocates for evidence-based reforms. His recent writings engage with global carceral systems and the Black Lives Matter movement’s impact on criminal justice discourse. He contributes to public debates through media commentary and collaborative research initiatives.