Mikko Aaltonen is Professor of Criminology at the Department of Law, University of Eastern Finland's Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Administration. He leads multiple research initiatives including the Criminology Research Group and Empirical Legal Research Unit. His work focuses on register-based studies of crime patterns, juvenile delinquency, and criminal justice outcomes. Research interests span quantitative criminology, adverse childhood experiences, recidivism prevention, neurodegenerative disease impacts on criminal behavior, and cross-national crime comparisons. His projects investigate societal determinants of crime through large-scale data analysis. Recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate methodological diversity including longitudinal cohort studies, registry linkages, and cross-national comparisons. Dominant themes include juvenile violence trajectories, prison population dynamics, neurocriminology, digital forensics, and reentry program effectiveness. Active projects include: ACElife - Adverse childhood experiences and prevention methods (2022-2028) Finnish Infrastructure for Register Research (FIRE) (2025-2029) Access to justice for marginalized groups in aging societies (2023-2027) He collaborates with the Neuroethics and Rights Research Group and House of Influence research collective.
Miguel Díaz y García Conlledo serves as a University Professor of Criminal Law at the University of León's Faculty of Law since 1997, with over 40 years of teaching experience starting in 1994. He coordinates the Criminal Law team (DPULE) and holds 6 five-year teaching periods and 5 six-year research periods. Research Focus: His work centers on eight critical criminal law domains: Criminal guarantees and procedural protections Co-offending structures (authorship/participation) Corruption in public administration Minority protections for vulnerable groups Sports-related criminal liability Economic and corporate crime Error theory in criminal law Cybercrime applications With nearly 200 specialized publications, his scholarly output demonstrates sustained contribution to criminal jurisprudence. His pandemic-era expansion into international online teaching highlights pedagogical adaptability across diverse student populations. Academic Profile: His comprehensive profile is documented through the University of León's scientific production portal and ORCID, with data updated as recently as May 2023. While specific awards aren't listed in available materials, his 5 six-year research periods confirm significant scholarly impact within Spain's academic evaluation system.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Röpke is affiliated with the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin as a clinical professor. He works at the Campus Benjamin Franklin , specifically in the Clinic and University Outpatient Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy , located at Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin. His email contact is stefan.roepke@charite.de . Research Focus: Traumatization, personality disorders (including borderline and self-harm), narcissism, autism/Asperger's syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorders, psychotherapy, psychological consequences of abuse/detention, offender profiling, victim care, anxiety disorders, depression, war trauma, and sleep disturbances.
Dr. Lauren R. Shapiro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Security of Computers and their Data, Cyberpredators, and Emergency Planning. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive-Developmental Psychology from Rutgers University, an M.S. in Criminal Justice (Law) from Indiana State University, an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Ohio University, and dual undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Early Childhood Education from the University of Buffalo. Her research spans cybercrime victimization, human trafficking, juvenile justice, eyewitness testimony, and terrorism radicalization. She applies interdisciplinary approaches blending psychology, criminal justice, and security studies to address real-world problems in physical security and private investigation. Her work examines how criminal stereotypes influence perception and decision-making throughout the criminal justice system, the legal implications of cyberabuse targeting marginalized groups, and the radicalization pathways of women joining extremist organizations. Dr. Shapiro has published extensively including the 2023 book Cyberpredators and their Prey , co-edited the Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management (2021), and co-authored Multidisciplinary Investigation of Child Maltreatment (2016). Her recent scholarship analyzes social media's role in cyberabuse, juvenile criminal stereotypes, and female radicalization to terrorism. She has secured multiple research grants from John Jay College's OAR Funding Program and serves as Senior Personnel for the Bureau of Justice Assistance's National Training and Technical Assistance Program. Dr. Shapiro frequently consults with law enforcement agencies and provides professional training workshops on forensic interviewing techniques for child abuse cases, eyewitness testimony, and security personnel training regarding human trafficking indicators. Her community engagement includes pro-bono consulting for the Bronx District Attorney's Office Child Abuse Unit and developing training programs for security personnel to identify trafficking victims in commercial spaces. She holds certificates from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Terrorism Awareness and Strategic Engagement.
Professor Andreas Mokros is a distinguished academic in the field of forensic and legal psychology at FernUniversity Hagen, where he serves as Dean of the Faculty of Psychology since March 2023. Previously, he was Pro-Dean from March 2021 to March 2023. He leads the Department of Personality, Legal Psychology & Diagnostics and holds a W3 Professorship since May 2017. His academic journey includes significant positions at the University Hospital Zurich (2011-2017) and University of Regensburg (2004-2011), where he earned his habilitation and venia legendi in 2013. He completed his PhD at Bergische Universität Wuppertal in 2007. Mokros' research focuses on psychopathy assessment, sexual sadism, risk prediction for sexual offenders, pedophilia assessment, and offender profiling. His work bridges clinical, forensic, and legal psychology with a strong emphasis on empirical validation of assessment tools. He has made significant contributions to understanding the structure of psychopathy, the measurement of sexual interests, and the prediction of recidivism among sexual offenders. His research often employs advanced statistical methods including meta-analyses, factor analyses, and experimental paradigms. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on psychopathy measurement (particularly PCL-R validation), sexual offending behaviors, and risk assessment methodologies. His work demonstrates methodological sophistication with increasing use of meta-analytic approaches and experimental designs. A notable trend is his growing interest in narcissism and dark personality traits alongside traditional forensic topics. His publications span high-impact journals in psychology, psychiatry, and criminology, reflecting interdisciplinary relevance. Professor Mokros serves as speaker of the Legal Psychology Working Group of the German Psychological Society (DGPs) since 2019 and is a member of the 'Netzwerk Operative Fallanalyse NRW' providing consultancy for criminal investigation. He holds certifications as a specialist in legal psychology, supervisor, and forensic psychology. His research has practical applications in forensic assessment, risk management, and treatment planning for sexual offenders.
Dr. Alexandra Zidenberg is an Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology at the University of Montreal, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in forensic psychology with a focus on sexual offending, paraphilias (particularly zoophilia), bestiality, animal abuse, incels, and the experiences of populations with disabilities in the criminal justice system. As a member of the Centre international de criminologie comparée (CICC), she conducts research that bridges academic inquiry with practical applications in criminal justice and mental health settings. Dr. Zidenberg's educational background includes: PhD in Psychology (2021) from the University of Saskatchewan Master's degree (2017) Bachelor's degree (2015) Postdoctoral training at McGill University Her research focuses on understanding the psychological profiles and experiences of individuals with atypical sexual interests, particularly zoophilia, as well as populations often marginalized in the criminal justice system. She examines the intersections of mental health, disability, and legal processes, with particular attention to d/Deaf individuals' experiences in the justice system. Her methodological approach combines quantitative and qualitative analyses, online community research, and program evaluations to develop evidence-based understandings of stigmatized phenomena. This work aims to reduce biases against marginalized populations, improve clinical and judicial interventions, and inform evidence-based public policies. Dr. Zidenberg's recent publications demonstrate strong trends in sexual violence research, particularly examining multiple-perpetrator rape, zoophilia, and the incel phenomenon. Her work increasingly focuses on methodologically sophisticated approaches to studying stigmatized populations while maintaining ethical research practices. She frequently collaborates with researchers across Canada and internationally, contributing to a growing body of literature on forensic psychology topics that have been historically understudied. Dr. Zidenberg has received several scientific awards including: 2022 Teaching Resources Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) 2022 Graduate Student Research Award from ATSA 2022 J. Stephen Wormith Graduate Research Award from the Criminal Justice Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association ATSA Graduate Research Award for her work on zoophilic interest Dr. Zidenberg is actively involved in securing research funding, with current projects supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the American Psychology-Law Society. Her research program includes multiple ongoing studies examining the relationship between animal abuse and sexual/intimate partner violence, mental health among individuals with zoophilic interests, and clinical understanding of non-human sexual attractions. She supervises graduate students in criminology and encourages undergraduate research participation through assistantships and collaborative projects.
Andrew Garin is an Associate Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, where he conducts research at the intersection of labor economics and public economics. His work focuses on how labor market structures determine who benefits from policy changes, with particular emphasis on the future of work, gig economy dynamics, and the relationship between criminal justice and employment. Professor Garin completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 2018, where his dissertation earned the first-place prize for the W.E. Upjohn Institute's Dissertation Award. Prior to joining CMU, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research methodology frequently employs quasi-experimental designs and tax data analysis to study labor market phenomena that may be underreported in traditional surveys. His research interests span several interconnected domains: Labor market impacts of criminal record remediation policies Evolution and measurement of platform gig work (2012-2023) Place-based industrial interventions and economic mobility Effects of incarceration on employment and earnings Public investment in regional economic development Professor Garin's recent publications reveal a consistent focus on using rigorous empirical methods to evaluate policies affecting 'left-behind' workers in distressed labor markets. His work on criminal justice and employment has demonstrated measurable impacts of record remediation laws, while his gig economy research has developed innovative measurement frameworks using tax data. Notable recognition for his work includes: W.E. Upjohn Institute's 2018 Dissertation Award (first-place) Professor Garin actively collaborates with researchers across institutions, frequently co-authoring papers with economists like Dmitri Koustas, Emilie Jackson, and Amanda Agan. His research often examines policy impacts through longitudinal data analysis, particularly using IRS tax returns to track labor market trends that may not appear in survey data. At Carnegie Mellon, Professor Garin contributes to Heinz College's mission of applying economics and policy analysis to real-world problems, with a particular focus on making 'work work for workers' as stated in his professional profile.
Professor Monika Całkiewicz serves as a full Professor in the Department of Criminal Law at Kozminski University, where she previously held the position of Vice-Rector for Law Studies (2012-2020). Her professional affiliations span academic, judicial, and bar association leadership roles: Current Professor at Kozminski University Dean of the Warsaw Bar Association Council (since 2020) Board of Editors member, International Association of Law Schools (since 2020) Legal counsel in active practice (since 2012) Former district prosecutor, Warszawa-Mokotów District Court (2002-2011) Academic credentials include habilitation in legal sciences from the University of Warsaw (2021), with specialized training at Germany's Max Planck Institute (2009, 2010). Her scholarly profile is defined by expertise in criminal law, forensic science, and criminology, focusing on practical investigation methodologies that bridge theoretical frameworks with courtroom applications. Research emphasizes homicide behavior patterns, forensic document analysis, and crime scene processing protocols for death investigations. Professor Całkiewicz's scientific contributions have been recognized with the Polish Forensic Association's highest honors: Best doctoral dissertation in forensic science (2004) Best habilitation in forensic science (2012) Her professional trajectory demonstrates unique integration of academic scholarship with active legal practice, evidenced through leadership in both university administration and the Warsaw Bar Association. International engagement through the Max Planck Institute and International Association of Law Schools reflects her commitment to cross-border legal education standards and forensic methodology development.
Professor John Rynne is a distinguished academic at Griffith University's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, where he has served as Senior Lecturer since 2012 and currently holds the rank of Professor. He is a member of the Griffith Criminology Institute and maintains significant international connections as an associate member of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Criminology Prison Research Centre. With extensive theoretical and applied knowledge of Australian and international criminal justice systems, Professor Rynne brings over 20 years of practical experience to his academic work, including 15 years in management and operational roles within the Queensland criminal justice system prior to his academic career. Professor Rynne's educational background includes a PhD from Griffith University (2005) on private prisons' impacts on the Australian custodial system, an MPhil in Psychology from University of Southern Queensland (1999), a BSc(Hons) in Psychology from University of Tasmania (1997), and a BAppSc in Psychology from University of Southern Queensland (1995). His academic journey reflects a consistent focus on psychology and criminal justice applications. His research interests center on forensic psychology with particular emphasis on youth involvement in offending (especially sexual offenses), Indigenous well-being following criminal justice system contact, and prison environments. Over the past decade, his work has increasingly focused on reducing harm in custodial settings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. His research demonstrates a clear evolution from broader criminal justice system analysis toward specialized focus on vulnerable populations within correctional environments, particularly Indigenous Australians and youth offenders. Analysis of Professor Rynne's recent publications (2019-2025) reveals a strong thematic concentration on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among youth sexual offenders, Indigenous incarceration issues, and program evaluation for youth forensic services. His work frequently employs mixed methods approaches, combining quantitative analysis of recidivism patterns with qualitative exploration of trauma experiences. The research shows increasing collaboration with Indigenous researchers and organizations, reflecting a commitment to culturally appropriate methodologies in studying Indigenous justice issues. Develop a Neurodevelopmental Framework for Practice and Practice Standards for the Queensland Youth Justice System (Department of Youth Justice, 2023-2025) Differentiating ACE profiles of male youths who exhibit harmful sexual behaviours (National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, 2023-2025) Examining the impact of childhood sexual abuse victimisation on adolescent offending outcomes (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2022-2024) Understanding wellbeing and desistance in young people treated for sexual offending (Westpac Banking Corporation, 2021-2024) Professor Rynne has supervised numerous doctoral students, serving as Principal Supervisor for six completed theses and currently advising two doctoral candidates. His supervision focuses on topics related to youth sexual offending, Indigenous justice, and correctional practices. He previously directed the Griffith Youth Forensic Service until mid-2024, overseeing clinical approaches for young people with harmful sexual behaviors. His research program demonstrates strong alignment between theoretical work, practical application, and policy impact, particularly evident in his contributions to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
Prof. Dr. Barbara Blum serves as a Professor in the Law Department at the University of Police and Administration North Rhine-Westphalia (HSPV NRW), specifically within the Police Specialist group at the Bielefeld campus. Her academic profile demonstrates a sustained commitment to criminal law education and research, with particular emphasis on the intersection of legal procedures and victim support systems. Located at Am Stadtholz 24 in Bielefeld, she maintains active teaching responsibilities in the Police Service (PVD) program. Professor Blum's research consistently focuses on the delicate balance between procedural justice and victim support within criminal proceedings. Her work examines how legal frameworks can simultaneously serve truth-finding objectives while providing adequate protection and assistance to victims and witnesses. She has made significant contributions to understanding the psychological dimensions of legal processes, particularly in domestic violence cases where alternative dispute resolution mechanisms intersect with traditional prosecution models. Her scholarship reveals a deep engagement with both theoretical legal principles and practical implementation challenges in courtroom settings. Analysis of her publication history from 2002-2012 reveals a clear trajectory of increasingly sophisticated examination of victim-witness dynamics within criminal justice systems. While early work established foundational understanding of judicial victim support systems, later publications delve into more nuanced areas like cognitive biases in investigative file processing and the ambivalent relationship between victim advocacy and traditional prosecutorial objectives. Her research consistently bridges legal theory with psychological insights, creating a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to criminal procedure. Professor Blum has contributed extensively to academic discourse through book chapters, journal articles, and conference proceedings, with particular emphasis on the Bielefelder Verfahrenstage (Bielefeld Proceedings Days) series. Her publications demonstrate sustained engagement with contemporary challenges in criminal justice, especially regarding domestic violence cases and witness testimony reliability. Through her reviews of significant criminological works, she has also helped shape scholarly understanding of broader criminal justice issues. Her teaching activities within the Police Specialist group Law indicate direct involvement in training future law enforcement professionals, with specific focus on criminal and criminal procedural law as well as intervention law. This practical educational component complements her theoretical research, creating a comprehensive academic profile deeply embedded in both scholarly and professional criminal justice contexts.
Dr. Anne Krabbendam is a Lecturer in Social Work in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Leiden University of Applied Sciences (working part-time) and a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist at LUMC-Curium academic medical center. Her dual roles bridge clinical practice and academic research, focusing on improving youth mental healthcare through system-oriented approaches. Her educational background includes: Medical degree from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Psychiatry training at GGZ Buitenamstel (now GGZ Ingeest) Child and adolescent psychiatry specialization at De Bascule (now Levvel) Doctorate (2016) on long-term outcomes of detained adolescent females Her research examines critical areas in youth psychiatry: Forensic adolescent psychiatry : Longitudinal outcomes of detained females Clinical interventions : System-oriented therapy and family dynamics Personality disorders : Diagnosis and treatment approaches for youth Suicide prevention : Parental support frameworks Her extensive publication record (15+ works) demonstrates consistent focus on juvenile mental health, forensic psychiatry, and therapeutic innovations from 1998 to 2023. Recent work emphasizes system-oriented clinical practices and borderline personality disorder management in young populations. As profile trainer at LUMC-Curium, she oversees training of child psychiatrists and integrates clinical insights into Leiden University's Youth Care master's program and Youth Mental Health Care minor. Her international fieldwork in Zimbabwe and Peru informs her cross-cultural perspectives on mental healthcare.
William D. Hicks serves as Interim Department Chair and Professor of Political Science in Appalachian State University's Department of Government and Justice Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences. Joining the department in 2014, he specializes in American state politics with research focusing on direct democracy, legislative behavior, representation, and quantitative methods for clustered data. His work appears in leading journals including Political Research Quarterly and State Politics & Policy Quarterly. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Florida M.A. in Political Science, Florida Atlantic University B.A. in Political Science, University of Montana Research Focus: Dr. Hicks' scholarship examines how electoral institutions and legislative processes shape representation in American states. His methodological expertise in hierarchical data analysis enables innovative studies of voter ID laws, redistricting effects, and criminal justice policy. Recent work bridges political science and criminology through investigations of wrongful convictions' public opinion impacts and community supervision outcomes, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry. Publication Profile: His 15 most recent publications (2013-2024) demonstrate consistent output in top political science journals, with increasing collaboration across institutions. The research portfolio shows methodological progression from basic quantitative analysis to sophisticated modeling of clustered data, while maintaining thematic focus on state-level governance. Notable contributions include a 2023 scholarly book and pioneering 2024 research on AI in political science pedagogy. Scientific Recognition: No major scientific awards listed in available sources Mentorship and Teaching: Dr. Hicks actively mentors graduate students through research collaborations and teaches foundational courses including graduate-level Methods & Statistics and undergraduate State & Local Government. His practical research approach prepares students for data-driven analysis of political phenomena, supported by his continuous publication record indicating sustained research activity. Research Infrastructure: While not directing a formal laboratory, Dr. Hicks maintains a productive research program through individual projects and nationwide collaborations. His professional website (wdhicks.com) serves as a hub for publications and research materials, facilitating scholarly engagement without dedicated physical lab space.
James Alan Fox is the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law, and Public Policy at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. With a career spanning over four decades, he is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading criminologists, often referred to as "The Dean of Death" for his extensive research on mass murders. His academic journey began at American University for his bachelor's degree, followed by multiple degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, Fox has maintained affiliations with several prestigious institutions including Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Vanderbilt University, and American University. Dr. Fox's educational background is impressive and multidisciplinary: Bachelor's degree in Sociology from American University (1972) Master's degree in Criminology from University of Pennsylvania (1974) Master's degree in Statistics from University of Pennsylvania (1975) Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Pennsylvania (1976) James Alan Fox's research interests span multiple critical areas within criminology, with particular emphasis on understanding extreme violence. His work focuses on serial murder, mass shootings, intimate partner homicide, youth crime, school and campus violence, workplace violence, and capital punishment. What sets Fox apart is his rigorous statistical approach to studying crime patterns and trends. He has developed expertise in randomized response techniques for surveying sensitive topics, which has strengthened the methodological foundation of criminological research. His research often bridges academic theory with practical policy implications, making it highly influential in both scholarly and public policy circles. Dr. Fox's publications reveal a consistent focus on understanding patterns of extreme violence, particularly mass shootings and serial murder. His work demonstrates a progression from foundational statistical methods in criminology to increasingly specialized studies of mass violence. Recent publications show a growing interest in the contagion effect of media coverage on mass shootings, school safety, and forecasting the severity of public shootings. His research combines rigorous quantitative analysis with practical policy recommendations, reflecting his dual commitment to academic scholarship and real-world impact. The breadth of his work spans from methodological innovations in survey research to comprehensive analyses of homicide trends and mass murder phenomena. James Alan Fox has received significant recognition for his scholarly contributions: Hugo Adam Bedau Award for excellence in capital punishment scholarship (2007) Klein Lectureship from Northeastern University (2008) As an influential scholar, Fox has advised policymakers at the highest levels. He served on President Bill Clinton's advisory committee on school shootings and a Department of Education Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools. His expertise has been sought by the United States Congress (with over a dozen testimony appearances) and in White House meetings with the President. Fox also chaired a blue-ribbon panel for the city of Seattle investigating the 2006 Capitol Hill massacre. His ability to translate complex criminological research into accessible insights has made him a frequent contributor to major media outlets, where he has published over 300 op-ed columns in newspapers including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. James Alan Fox maintains a significant presence in both academic and public spheres. As a principal in maintaining the Associated Press/USA Today, Northeastern University Mass Killing Database, he has created a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers. His frequent media appearances on national television and radio programs, including the Today Show, Meet the Press, Dateline, 20/20, 48 Hours, and Oprah, demonstrate his commitment to bringing criminological insights to the broader public. His work bridges the gap between academic research and practical application, making complex issues of violence and crime accessible to diverse audiences.
