Aaron T. Kinzel is a criminologist and consultant specializing in corrections, public policy, and justice-impacted communities. He was trained as a researcher at the University of Michigan and teaches there as well along with other academic institutions. Drawing from his lived experience as a formerly incarcerated youth who served more than half of a 19-year prison sentence for a violent confrontation with police, he has worked to expand educational and employment opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.
Kinzel focuses on sharing his story of redemption and changing culture through his collaborations with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Justice and various nonprofits to reform the criminal justice system. With a deep understanding of the carceral state, he has visited over 100 correctional facilities worldwide and trained professionals on best practices for engaging diverse populations.
Committed to civic engagement and public safety, Kinzel mentors and educates students, justice-involved individuals, and criminal justice professionals to transform our American culture of punishment into rehabilitation and effective policy change. He is also a Vera Institute of Justice: Corrections Education Leadership Academy (CELA) Fellow from the inaugural cohort from 2021.
