Policing and Society Conference

30. September - 1. October
For the 9th time, the Policing and Society Conference takes place at UNAK — the theme of this year's conference is Youth Crime
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The Policing and Society Conference is a venue where Icelandic and international academics and professionals meet and converse about policing in a broad sense. This year’s conference theme is Youth Crime.

Programme

The programme will be available here soon

Keynote Speakers

Caroline Lanskey

Caroline Lanskey is an Associate Professor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology and Director of its Justice and Society Research Centre. Her research draws on her interdisciplinary expertise in criminology, education (sociology and philosophy) and language, and explores the human and social dimensions of criminal justice involvement with a particular focus on processes of marginalisation and inclusion. With expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies she has led and co-led numerous research projects with young people in or at risk of involvement in the justice system. Her recent work has taken a comparative look at equality in youth justice decision-making processes including the role of the police, and intersections with other agencies working in youth justice and in interlocking systems such as welfare and education.

Markus Kaakinen

Markus Kaakinen is an Associate Professor of Criminal Policy at the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy, University of Helsinki. His research focuses on youth crime, risk behaviour, and crime prevention. He has published extensively and led multiple research projects within these areas.

Registeration

The conference registration fee is €70 per person, and the program, coffee, and refreshments are included. University students attend free of charge. Conference attendees pay for their own travel and accommodation. 

Click here to register

Call for abstracts

The Police Science Research Center at the University of Akureyri (Iceland) invites abstracts for its 9th Policing and Society Conference on September 30 and October 1, 2026. The conference is a venue where Icelandic and international academics and professionals meet and converse about policing in a broad sense. Professionals and academics who work in fields that involve policing in one form or another are encouraged to submit abstracts that build on their work and/or research.

The keynote speakers reflect this year’s conference theme: Youth Crime. Crime rates increase rapidly during adolescence and typically peak in the late teenage years or early twenties. Understanding the nature and extent of youth crime, as well as its key drivers, is essential for developing effective responses and preventing further offending. Keynote speakers will be announced later.

We strongly encourage abstracts that deal with youth crime, but we, of course, welcome all contributions that intersect with policing in one form or another. To reiterate: this conference is a joint venue for academics and professionals to share their research and experience involving policing, learn from one another, and engage with the public.

Call for abstracts (pdf)

abstracts should be submitted no later than august 15.

Useful Information:

  • The conference will be held September 30 and October 1, 2026, in the Miðborg house of the University of Akureyri. The conference runs from 9:00 Wednesday, September 30, to 13:00 Thursday, October 1.
  • Each presentation is allotted 25 minutes, which includes Q&A. Abstracts (maximum 250 words) should be submitted via email (goddsson@unak.is) no later than August 15. Abstracts should include a title, short description, methods, main results and/or arguments. Include information about academic position, profession, and the order of the authors (if more than one).
  • The conference registration fee is €70 per person, and the program, coffee, and refreshments are included. University students attend free of charge. Conference attendees pay for their own travel and accommodation.
  • Several airlines fly to Iceland, including Icelandair www.icelandair.com 
  • Facebook event

Further Information

For more information contact Guðmundur Oddsson, Professor of Sociology at the University of Akureyri goddsson@unak.is; tel. +354 460 8677