Thomas D Akoensi

Dr Thomas D Akoensi is a Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Kent's School of Social Sciences. He holds a PhD and MPhil in Criminology from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Psychology from the University of Ghana. His research focuses on penology, organisational behaviour in criminal justice systems, and legitimacy in corrections, with a regional emphasis on Ghanaian institutions. He currently collaborates with Dr Amy Nivette (Nuffield College, Oxford) on a project examining legitimacy and informal social control in Accra communities.

Dr Akoensi teaches on the BA Criminal Justice and Criminology programme, covering modules related to policy, penology, and criminal justice systems. He is a member of the American Society of Criminology and the Global Prisons Research Network.

His work explores prison officer well-being, including studies on work-family conflict, job satisfaction, and perceptions of self-legitimacy. He has conducted systematic reviews on drug treatment programmes and juvenile justice interventions across Europe, contributing to evidence-based policy frameworks. Recent research addresses the impact of the pandemic on Ghanaian prisons and the barriers faced by individuals with criminal records in employment.

Notable collaborations include studies on Ghanaian correctional systems, police legitimacy in developing nations, and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Dr Akoensi’s interdisciplinary approach combines qualitative and quantitative methods, addressing both theoretical and applied dimensions of criminal justice challenges.