Research Philosophy
I approach criminology as a problem-solving discipline, focusing on practical solutions to real-world challenges in criminal justice. My work is grounded in evidence-based methodologies—prioritizing empirical data, rigorous analysis, and measurable outcomes over theoretical speculation. This approach has guided my research across international comparative studies, prison systems analysis, and policy development.
Academic Position & Research Focus
Professor of Criminology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, where I focus on comparative criminology, penology, juvenile delinquency, and the relationship between drug use and crime. I also serve as Executive Secretary of the European Society of Criminology.
Research Leadership
- Chair of the experts’ group for the European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics
- Scientific expert for the Council of Europe, responsible for the SPACE: Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics
- Chair of the Scientific Committee of the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)
Background & Education
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I have been based in Europe since the 1990s. My academic journey includes:
- Law degree from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)
- Postgraduate degree in criminology from the University of Lausanne (UNIL)
- PhD in criminology with summa cum laude distinction from UNIL
- Postdoctoral research at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) and the Max Planck Institute (Freiburg, Germany)
Academic Appointments
I have held faculty positions as a criminology professor at the University of Seville and the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain. My leadership roles have included:
- Deputy Director of the Seville Section of the Andalusian Interuniversity Institute of Criminology
- Deputy Director of the School of Criminal Sciences at the University of Lausanne
Honors & Recognition
- Fernand Boulan Award from the International Association of Francophone Criminologists (AICLF)
- Faculty award from the Law Faculty of UNIL
- Honorary member of the Italian Society of Criminology
- Honorary Professor at José Carlos Mariátegui University (Moquegua, Peru)
- Honorary member of the Illustrious College of Lawyers of Cusco (Peru)
Publications
Author or co-author of approximately 200 scientific texts published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Catalan, Macedonian, Turkish, and German, including more than twenty books and dozens of articles in specialized criminology journals.
These publications span multiple areas of criminology, with significant contributions to comparative criminology, penology, and critical perspectives on Marxist and postmodern criminological theories. They include pioneering research evaluating the impact of Swiss heroin prescription programs on crime rates that made a significant contribution to evidence-based drug policy internationally.
Beyond academic writing, I have also published a collection of short stories titled “Un color sepia” (Ed. Simurg, Buenos Aires).
Languages
- Fluent: Spanish (Mother language), French, English, Italian
- Oral and written comprehension: Portuguese, Catalan
- Basic: German