The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is honored to announce that Dr. Gary LaFree has been named Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland. The title of Emeritus recognizes faculty who have retired after a distinguished career of outstanding service in teaching, research, or service. Dr. LaFree’s new status as Professor Emeritus is a testament to his exceptional contributions and commitment to the university.

Dr. LaFree previously served as the Director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University in 1979 and has since made impactful strides in criminology. He was named Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland in 2022. His leadership roles include serving as President of the American Society of Criminology (ASC) from 2005-2006 and being named a Criminology Fellow by the ASC in 2006. In 2020, he was honored with the Sutherland Award from the ASC. Most recently, in 2024, Dr. LaFree received the prestigious Stockholm Prize in Criminology from the Swedish Ministry of Justice, the highest honor in the field of criminology.

Beyond his roles at UMD, Dr. LaFree has contributed to several influential organizations.  Dr. LaFree served on the Law and Justice Committee of the National Academy of Sciences for eight years.  He served as President of the ASC’s Division on International Criminology; Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Section on Crime, Law and Deviance; Executive Committee of the H.F. Guggenheim Foundation; Chair of the Criminology Department, University of Maryland; Chair of the Sociology Department, University of New Mexico; Director, Institute for Social Research, University of New Mexico; and Director, New Mexico Criminal Justice Statistics Analysis Center.  Dr. LaFree is the Founding Director of the Maryland Center for Research on Crime (MCRIC) and is a Founding Member of the Democracy Collaborative. 

Dr. LaFree's prolific work includes over 140 articles, eight books, and service on the editorial boards of seven journals. He has received numerous accolades, including the G. Paul Sylvestre Award and the Phillip Hoke Award for his contributions to criminal justice statistics. As he transitions to Emeritus status, we look forward to Dr. LaFree's continued engagement with our academic community and celebrate his remarkable achievements.

Congratulations to Gary LaFree for this important recognition not only of his scholarship and teaching but also of his years of service to the department and the university.