Current International Conference

July 15 – 18, 2024

ISRCL International Conference 2024
The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law is pleased to announce that planning is well underway to host the next international annual conference. The 2024 Conference is due to take place in Vancouver, BC from July 15 – 18, 2024.

Past International Conferences

October 19 – 21, 2022

Thinking Beyond the Bars: New Approaches in Sentencing, Corrections, and Restorative Justice: 19 - 21 October 2022 | Virtual Conference
The ISRCL 2022 Conference focused on sentencing, corrections and innovative approaches to criminal justice. The theme “Thinking Beyond the Bars” encompassed new visions for resolving criminal law problems. This included specialized courts, the use of neuroscience, artificial intelligence and genetics in the sentencing process, youth justice sentencing, role of police and diversion, victims’ rights and implicit bias in sentencing.

July 9 – 12, 2019

Bribery and Corruption Conference: Modern Approaches to an Eternal Problem 9 - 12 July 2019 | Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Bribery and Corruption have been an eternal problem which ultimately affects the most vulnerable in society. This conference tackled these issues. The focus included the scope of the problem, corruption prevention, risk management, investigation and law enforcement strategies, legislative reform and policies, international responses and evidentiary issues.

July 16 – 18, 2018

The Scourge of Trafficking in the 21st Century: Trafficking in humans, drugs, wildlife, and trafficking in antiquities to fund terrorism 16 - 18 July 2018 | Montreal, QC, Canada

In 2018, ISRCL tackled the many issues surrounding trafficking: in humans, wildlife, drugs, firearms and antiquities. It examined trafficking as a source of funding for terrorists and organized crime. The focus included the scope of the problem, enforcement strategies, legislative reforms and policies, international responses, extradition and evidentiary issues.

July 9 – 13, 2017

Criminal Justice in the 21st Century 9 - 13 July 2017 | San Francisco, CA, USA

This conference explored the ins and outs of white collar crime; discussed how difficult it is to obtain evidence to prove these offences; how complex international legislation affects the prosecution and defense of these crimes; and sentencing trends. The conference included the all-important discussions in relation to police powers; sentencing and corrections.

July 24 – 28, 2016

Protecting Privacy - Domestic and International Criminal Justice Responses to Crimes Against Personal Privacy and the Balance between Individual Privacy and Collective Security 24 - 28 July 2016 | Halifax, NS, Canada

This conference examined and promoted discussion and debate of the challenges that privacy concerns and technological change pose to international and national criminal justice systems. The key question is how the criminal justice system can properly respond to the competing demands of privacy, law enforcement effectiveness and national security.

June 21 – 25, 2015

Crossing Boundaries: Exploitation, e-Crime, Evidence, and Extradition 21 - 25 June 2015 | Edinburgh, Scotland

With an increase in the appreciation of the global nature of crime in the 21st century, no matter the size of a domestic jurisdiction, over the last generation all involved in working for justice have witnessed the rapid rise in the complexity of crime detection and prosecution, as physical and virtual elements of evidence require to be pursued across jurisdictions.

June 22 – 26, 2014

Crime and Punishment: Back to the Future for Sentencing and Corrections Reform 22 - 26 June 2014 | Vancouver, BC, Canada

This conference considered sentencing and corrections reforms in the context of two significant historical events: the publication of Cesare Beccaria’s essay “On Crimes and Punishment” and the “Ouimet Report of the Canadian Committee on Corrections”. Influenced by the prevailing political views of the day, the jurisdictions from which the ISRCL’s membershi are drawn have adopted, and also rejected, several corrections sentencing models (the rehabilitative model, a retributivist or “just deserts” model and an incapacitation model. Delegates discussed a wide variety of sentencing mechanisms and corrections policies including: indeterminate sentences, mandatory and mandatory minimum sentences, conditional sentences, conditional release restrictions, the setting of sentencing guidelines for the courts, parole and probation policies and restorative justice processes.