Johan Thorsten Sellin, who lived from 1896 to 1994, was a Swedish American sociologist and penologist at the University of Pennsylvania, regarded as one of the pioneers of scientific criminology. Born in Sweden and educated in Canada and the United States, he became prominent in the 1920s and 1930s for his work on criminal statistics, helped draft the United States Uniform Criminal Statistics Act of 1944, and advised both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Census Bureau. He also served as secretary-general of the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission and as president of the International Society of Criminology.
Facts
Defining ContributionOne of the pioneers of scientific criminology; helped draft the U.S. Uniform Criminal Statistics Act 1 Notable WorkResearch Memorandum on Crime in the Depression (1937) 1 Connections
Associated With
Thorsten Sellin pioneered comparative statistical research on the deterrent effect of capital punishment (the "Sellin comparative method"), foundational to empirical deterrence research.
Sources
1. Thorsten Sellin - Wikipedia
Selected works section
Research Memorandum on Crime in the Depression (1937)
Lead section, opening sentence
Johan Thorsten Sellin (26 October 1896-17 September 1994) was a Swedish American sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, a penologist and one of the pioneers of scientific criminology.
Early life section
Örnsköldsvik in Västernorrland County, Sweden
View the Source2. Wikidata: Thorsten Sellin
Wikidata Q433517, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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