he long-term goal of my research and academic work is to achieve a deep understanding of various aspects of the fields of Penology (theory of punishment) and prisons, with a clear intention to combine theory and research with the development of penal and penal practices that will improve sentencing policy and the well-being of prisoners and prison staff, and that will increase the chances of rehabilitation of prisoners after their release. To achieve this goal, I have been and am still engaged in a number of projects with great potential impact, as detailed below.

My academic work in recent years has combined theoretical thinking and research with practical applications, while placing great emphasis on translating theoretical and empirical concepts into practice. This work has influenced both theoretical thinking and practice in the field of prisons, mainly in Israel but also abroad.

In brief, at the international level, I have worked with the Prison Research Center, Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University to develop new theoretical concepts and practical strategies for prison management that will improve the well-being of guards and prisoners. At the same time, in collaboration with Professor Robert Enright of the University of Wisconsin, Professor Nati Ronal of Bar-Ilo University and Dr. Yitzhak Ben-Yair of Safed Academic College, we have examined the suitability of forgiveness therapy for treating prisoners suffering from addictions. In addition to the above, I am involved in academic collaboration with researchers and professionals from the USA (Boston University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Mexico (UNICACH), England (University of Exeter and University of Cambridge) and Australia (University of New South Wales), in order to build an international research network in the fields of music and justice. The network's objectives are to initiate international studies dealing with the impact of music on the well-being of prisoners and to share research and practical knowledge regarding the use of music within prisons and crime prevention after release.

In addition, I was invited by the Erasmus program and the University of Strasbourg to participate in a training week during which I met Professors Christina Odon, Jeremy Gauthier (Head of International Relations in the Department of Social Sciences), Jerome Bouches (Head of the DeviAnces Laboratory), Michel Benbourirche and Nicolas Amadeo, with the aim of initiating academic collaborations. on the topics of policing and police misconduct (a field in which I have supervised two doctoral theses), victimology, forgiveness, therapy, and rehabilitation of victims who have become criminals. Finally, I serve as an editorial board member for three international journals, including one that is considered a leader in my field of research – The Prison Journal.

My work at the national level has included and includes (1) the construction of a university research prison (in collaboration with Professor Nati Ronal of Bar-Ilan University) in Israel for the purpose of collecting and systematically analyzing large-scale data on prison life (a project that ended approximately 12 months after its inception due to various internal circumstances of the Israel Prison Service). Similarly, Professor Ronal and I developed a “Smart Therapeutic Community” program at “Retourno”, a therapeutic community for drug addiction. (2) research on learning disabilities in prison that changed the conceptual understanding related to the rehabilitation of prisoners with learning disabilities and led to the development and use of New diagnostic and treatment tools currently used in prisons in Israel. (3) Unique studies on women's prisons that led to understandings and insights regarding their needs and the characteristics of the prison subculture. (4) Innovative research (in collaboration with Dr. Nina Soliman) on the well-being of prison guards, which led to a better understanding of the challenges they face and new ideas regarding their training. In this context, it is important to note that my research in prison led the Prison Service to invite me to be part of the first think tank forum for the redesign of women's prisons in Israel.

In addition to the above, I am involved in a number of academic initiatives including analyzing the impact of working in and listening to prisoners' radio programs ('Redo Focus') on their quality of life, the impact of several types of music on prisoners' well-being, analyzing and understanding the strip club subculture, and enhancing the legitimacy and trust of the public and at-risk youth in the police.

In conclusion, My research focuses on expanding and deepening theoretical and empirical knowledge in the fields of phenology, prisons, criminal justice, and prisoner rehabilitation.

I completed my undergraduate degree in criminology at Bar-Ilan University and my master’s and doctoral degrees at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. To date, I have published six books, both solo and with collaborators, and my research has been published in leading international journals.