Hank Fradella

Henry F. "Hank" Fradella is a prominent American lawyer and criminologist currently serving as a Professor and Associate Director at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University (ASU). He is also an Affiliate Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. His academic background includes a B.A. in Psychology from Clark University, an M.F.S. in Forensic Science, and a J.D. from The George Washington University, followed by a Ph.D. in Justice Studies from ASU.123

Academic and Professional Background

Fradella's career includes prior positions as a professor and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University, Long Beach, before joining ASU. His research interests encompass the historical development of criminal law, legal decision-making, and the effects of law on human behavior. He has published extensively, authoring or editing over 15 books and more than 120 articles, contributing significantly to various fields within criminology and law.134

He has received numerous accolades for his work, including the Joseph D. Lohman Award in 2014 from the Western Society of Criminology, and he was honored with the establishment of the Henry F. Fradella Award in 2024 by the same society to recognize significant contributions to empirical scholarship in criminal justice.135

Contributions to Criminology

Fradella is recognized as a leading expert on topics such as insanity defenses and constitutional criminal procedure. His scholarly work has influenced legal practices and policies, with several courts citing his research. Additionally, he has held editorial roles in various criminology journals, including serving as editor-in-chief of Criminology, Criminal Justice, Law & Society from 2013 to 2017.123

Fradella's teaching includes courses on substantive criminal law and courts and sentencing, reflecting his deep engagement with both theoretical and practical aspects of criminal justice education.23