Jan Maarten Elbers
Assistant professor
- Name
- Dr. J.M. Elbers
- Telephone
- 071 5277604
- j.m.elbers@law.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-1280-552X
Jan Maarten Elbers works as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology.
Education
Jan Maarten Elbers completed his academic training at Leiden University, earning a BSc in Criminology, an MSc in Crime Policy and Law Enforcement, and an MSc in Criminal Justice.
Career
Jan Maarten Elbers is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology at Leiden University. During his master's studies, he worked as a research assistant on interview studies examining the reintegration of politically sensitive formerly incarcerated individuals and the experiences of incarcerated individuals serving life and other long-term sentences.
From 2019 to 2024, he was a PhD candidate at the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology as part of the Life in Custody research project. On 19 June 2024, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, Reward Systems in Prison. His dissertation examined (1) the theoretical assumptions, (2) the practical implementation, and (3) the effects of systematically rewarding prisoners' 'good' behaviour. To conduct this policy theory, process, and outcome evaluation, he employed a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Research Interests
Jan Maarten's current research focuses on vulnerable populations involved in the criminal justice system. His ongoing work examines community courts, labour market reintegration of current and former incarcerated individuals, and the interaction of self-governance and behavioural change among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. He collaborates with criminologists, socio-legal scholars, and criminal law researchers, and conducts qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research.
Teaching
Jan Maarten is the coordinator of the Master's programme in Criminology and Security Policy. He coordinates the Master's courses Security Policy and Evaluation of Crime and Security Policy. In addition, he supervises bachelor's and master's theses.
Assistant professor
- Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
- Criminal Law and Criminology
- Criminology
- Criminology Section A
- Elbers J.M., Ginneken E.F.J.C. van, Nieuwbeerta P., Boone M.M. & Palmen J.M.H. (2026), Predictors of reward status in prison: behaviour, motivation, and self-governance ability, European Journal of Criminology : 1-26.
- Elbers J.M. (2025), Ruim tien jaar ervaringen met het systeem van promoveren en degraderen: wat weten we en hoe nu verder?, Proces: Tijdschrift voor Strafrechtspleging 104(2): 89-107.
- Elbers J.M. (19 June 2024), Reward systems in prison (Dissertatie. Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Leiden University) Meijers-reeks no. MI-423. Supervisor(s) and Co-supervisor(s): Nieuwbeerta P. & Boone M.M., Ginneken E.F.J.C. van & Palmen J.M.H.
- Elbers J.M., Ginneken E.F.J.C. van, Nieuwbeerta P., Boone M.M. & Palmen J.M.H. (2022), The effects of reward systems in prison: a systematic review, International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 71: 1-14 (100556).
- Elbers J.M., Ginneken E.F.J.C. van, Boone M.M., Nieuwbeerta P. & Palmen J.M.H. (2021), Straffen en belonen in detentie: een planevaluatie van het Nederlandse systeem van promoveren en degraderen, Tijdschrift voor Criminologie 63(3): 263-291.
- Liem M.C.A. & Weggemans D. (2016), Op Vrije Voeten: Een exploratieve studie naar de rol van publieke aandacht in de re-integratie van ex-gedetineerden. Den Haag: Universiteit Leiden Campus Den Haag.
- Liem M.C.A. & Elbers J.M. (2016), The Role of Human Rights in Long-Term Sentencing, Security and Human Rights 26 [2015](2-4): 281-293.
- Elbers J.M., Weggemans D.J. & Liem M.C.A. (2016), Op Vrije Voeten: Herintreding van Maatschappelijk Gevoelige Ex-Gedetineerden.
- Liem M.C.A. & Elbers J.M. (18 March 2015), Long-term prisoners left to dangle. Leiden Law Blog. [blog entry].
- Elbers J.M. & Liem M.C.A. (2015), Review of: Munn M. & Bruckert C. (2013), On the outside: From lengthy imprisonment to lasting freedom: UBC Press. International Criminal Justice Review 25(3): 281-282.