PHILADELPHIA - Lawrence W. Sherman, director of the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology and professor of criminology and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, has been named to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency by Gov. Edward Rendell.

"Dr. Sherman is one of our nation's most distinguished experts in the field of criminal justice research and policy," Rendell said. "His research has been cited by the United States Supreme Court, and governments around the world routinely reach out to Dr. Sherman for guidance when making key decisions about public safety. I am honored that he is willing to give of his time to help guide Pennsylvania as we make difficult policy and practice decisions here, including reducing handgun violence, prison overcrowding and offender recidivism."

In 2003, Sherman was appointed the first professor of criminology at Penn with a five-year term as chair of the criminology department.  He has been a professor of sociology at Penn since 2000.  He served as president of the American Academy of Political and Social Science in 2001-2005, and was the founding president of the Academy of Experimental Criminology in 1999-2001.

Since beginning his career as a civilian research analyst in the New York City Police Department as an Alfred P. Sloan Urban Fellow in 1971, he has collaborated with more than 30 police agencies around the world, evaluating policies designed to prevent crime, reduce domestic violence, get illegal guns off the streets, prevent police corruption and help victims of crime.

Sherman's research is the basis for Great Britain's $400 million crime-prevention program.  He is currently collaborating with the Australian Federal Police on an evaluation of victim-centered restorative justice programs for juvenile violence and crime, and he serves as president of the International Society of Criminology in Paris.