معرفی
Thomas Ugelvik is a Professor of Criminology at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oslo. He has held this position since 2017 and is currently on sabbatical leave until autumn 2025. His academic work focuses on penology, with particular attention to the practical execution of punishment, subjective experiences of punishment, and the aftereffects of punishment in Scandinavian contexts.
Ugelvik earned his PhD in 2010 with a thesis examining everyday life in Oslo prison, with a specific focus on staff-prisoner relationships and the interplay of power and resistance. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Prisons Research Centre at the University of Cambridge in 2012, further developing his expertise in comparative penology. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his ethnographic and narrative approaches to criminological research.
Professor Ugelvik's research interests span multiple interconnected areas within penology. He is particularly known for his work on narrative criminology, examining how stories and storytelling shape both criminal behavior and penal responses. His research on health in prisons challenges conventional understandings of the 'healthy prisons' initiative, exploring the complex relationship between illness and imprisonment. Ugelvik also conducts significant research on desistance from crime, investigating the processes through which individuals move away from criminal behavior, with particular attention to trust dynamics and social relationships that facilitate this transformation. His methodological approach is primarily qualitative, employing ethnographic and narrative methods to capture the lived experiences of those within penal institutions.
Analysis of Ugelvik's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Scandinavian penal exceptionalism, narrative approaches to understanding crime and punishment, and the intersection of health and incarceration. His work frequently examines how theoretical concepts like desistance and trust manifest in practical prison settings. There's a notable emphasis on qualitative methodologies and narrative analysis across his publications, reflecting his commitment to understanding the subjective dimensions of punishment and rehabilitation.
- Founding Editor-in-Chief of Incarceration: An International Journal of Imprisonment, Detention and Coercive Confinement (2020-present)
- Co-editor of the Palgrave Studies in Prisons and Penology book series
- Member of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH)
- Recipient of research funding for multiple projects including ORES and PRISONHEALTH
As an educator, Ugelvik teaches courses KRIM1300, KRIM2904/4904, and KRS4106 at the University of Oslo. He has supervised numerous students who have gone on to contribute to the field of criminology, particularly in areas related to penology, narrative approaches, and Scandinavian penal exceptionalism. His podcast 'Kriminologene' serves as an important platform for disseminating criminological knowledge to both academic and broader audiences, featuring interviews with prominent criminologists discussing their research and theoretical perspectives.
Ugelvik's research is characterized by its strong connection to real-world penal practices while maintaining theoretical depth. His work frequently appears in leading criminological journals including The British Journal of Criminology, Crime, Media, Culture, Ethnography, and Punishment and Society. His current research trajectory suggests a continued focus on the intersections between penal culture, health, and desistance processes within the distinctive context of Scandinavian penal systems.
