Alumna and honorary graduate Frances Crook OBE wins prestigious award in criminology

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Woman in graduating cap and gown smiling at camera

University of Liverpool alumna, Frances Crook OBE has been awarded the Stockholm Prize in Criminology, the world’s most prestigious award in the field of criminology.

Penal reform campaigner, Frances and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative International, Bryan Stevenson were honoured by the Jury of the Stockholm Prize in Criminology Foundation, for their applied criminological research as practitioners that succeeded in reducing cruel and unusual punishment.

The prize is awarded annually and will be presented to Frances and Bryan in June 2025 in Stockholm.

Frances’ career

Frances graduated with a BA Hons in Medival and Modern History from the University in 1976 and returned to the University in 2016 to receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

She held the position as Chief Executive of the UK’s Howard League for Penal Reform from 1986 to 2021. During her time she made outstanding use of criminological research to reduce imprisonment of young offenders in favour of more humane rehabilitation programmes in the community.

She is currently an Honorary Visting Fellow at the University of Leicester School of Criminology and has also been an Honorary Visting Fellow at the London School of Economics.

The University would like to congratulate Frances for this incredible achievement.

WATCH | A message from Frances Crook as she received honorary degree from the University