The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is pleased to congratulate Daniel Mears, Mark C. Stafford Professor of Criminology and Distinguished Research Professor, on being recognized with the Bruce Smith, Sr. Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

The Bruce Smith, Sr. Award is the Academy’s most prestigious award and is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to criminal justice as an academic and professional endeavor. Awardees must demonstrate leadership in the administration of criminal justice as an academic or professional discipline in a manner that reflects the highest standards of integrity and performance. Additionally, awardees must be actively involved and have made substantial contributions in research to the emerging body of knowledge in criminal justice.

This is one of many honors Dr. Mears has received. In 2020, Dr. Mears received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division of Corrections and Sentencing. In 2019, he was recognized with the Academy of Criminal Justice Science’s Outstanding Book Award for “Out-of-Control Criminal Justice” (Cambridge University Press). In 2018, Dr. Mears was named a Fellow by the American Society of Criminology (ASC). Further, in 2017, Dr. Mears was awarded the Academy of Criminal Justice Science’s Outstanding Paper Award.

Dr. Mears extensive work in the discipline focuses on incarceration, crime causation, criminal and juvenile justice, and crime prevention and intervention. He also serves as the Director of the Corrections Research & Policy Institute, a branch of the College’s Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research.

“Professor Mears has long been one of our most prolific and productive faculty members,” said Dr. Thomas Blomberg, Dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “The College is pleased that he has once again been appropriately recognized for his many contributions to the field and our intellectual community.”

Dr. Mears will receive the Bruce Smith, Sr. Award at the ACJS conference on March 16, 2022 at the ACJS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will also deliver the keynote address.