Sonja Snacken is Professor of Criminology, Penology and Sociology of Law at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), where she now holds a five year 'Research Fellowship' (2006-2011).Her research focuses on sentencing and the implementation of custodial and non-custodial sentences in Belgium and Europe.She participates in several international scientific networks, both English- and French-speaking, is a member of the Editorial Board of high standing international journals (Punishment and Society, Déviance et Société), was elected president of the European Society of Criminology (2004-2005), acts as an expert for the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (since 1994) and is a member (since 2001) and President (since 2006) of the Council for Penological Cooperation of the Council of Europe.At national level, she was a member of the drafting committee for the first Prison Act in Belgium (2005) and president of the drafting committee for the Act on the External Legal Position of Prisoners (2006).
Belgium