The two laureates are, in different ways, leaders in the field of governance and legitimacy of legal institutions, and will present and discuss their findings in more detail during the Stockholm Criminology Symposium, June 10-12. The symposium is organized by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, Brå. The field of research on how policy makers can win, or lose, the public's willingness to comply with laws and regulations is relatively new.

Gary LaFree is a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland and is the founder of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism and of the Global Terrorism Database. He earned his doctorate in sociology from Indiana University. LaFree's research shows, among other things, that violence in the United States declined in the late 20th century as national and local reforms were designed to address racial discrimination and inequality while also expanding education and employment opportunities for the most vulnerable segments of the population. This, in turn, increased and stabilized trust in societal institutions. LaFree has innovatively studied the relationship between crime levels in society and the legitimacy of societal institutions and has made a significant contribution to our understanding of terrorism.

Tom R. Tyler is the Macklin-Fleming Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology at Yale University and founder of The Justice Collaboratory, a research center dedicated to a theory-driven, evidence-based justice system. He received his doctorate in social psychology from the University of California. Tyler's research focuses on how interactions between individuals and social institutions, especially the police, manifest themselves. His empirical studies, including in Chicago and New York, and successful experiments training police in how to interact with the public, have laid the foundation for the theory of procedural justice. It advocates a greater focus on strengthening the legitimacy of social institutions rather than increasing the threat of punishment and harshness.

About the award

The Stockholm Prize in Criminology is an international prize awarded annually. It is sponsored by the Stockholm Prize in Criminology Foundation, established by the Swedish government and the Torsten Söderberg Foundation. The prize was awarded for the first time in 2006. Some international organizations also make important contributions to the prize.

The prize is awarded for outstanding achievements in criminological research or for the practical application of research findings in law enforcement and the promotion of human rights. The independent international jury is chaired by Professors Lawrence W. Sherman and Jerzy Sarnecki. The award ceremony takes place in Stockholm City Hall in June each year in conjunction with the Stockholm Criminology Symposium organized by Brå.

The Torsten Söderberg Foundation and the prize

Article on the winners

Stockholm Prize in Criminology, Stockholm University

Stockholm Criminology Symposium