In Memoriam
Ronald Lee Gainer
August 7, 1934 – January 30, 2026
Ronald L. Gainer, one of the founding members of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, a partner at Gainer and Rient, and former Deputy Associate Attorney General, died at home with his wife by his side, in Arlington, Virginia on January 30, 2026. He was 91.
Ron’s life work concentrated on attempting to improve the rationale, policies, and operations of the criminal justice systems of the United States and other nations. He expended over 15 years in an effort to develop, and to achieve congressional passage of, a federal criminal code designed to replace all of the existing federal criminal statutes. He was a principal instigator in the conceptualization and creation of several institutions designed to improve the operation of criminal justice systems. At the Department of Justice this included the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Office of Professional Responsibility, and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. He served on the United States Sentencing Commission, and was the US Delegate to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Vienna), the International Center for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Policy (Vancouver), and advised the World Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity.
The Society wishes to recognize Mr. Gainer’s extraordinary life and contribution to public service.
2026 ISRCL International Conference
Montréal, Quebec | July 13 – 16, 2026
The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law is pleased to announce that the ISRCL 2026 International Conference will take place in Montréal, Quebec from July 13 – 16, 2026. Stay tuned for more details, including registration and the conference agenda. We look forward to welcoming you!
SEX, VIOLENCE & FRAUD: Transnational Crime
Edinburgh, Scotland | June 2 – 5, 2025
The ISRCL Conference was a four-day international event held from June 2 to 5, 2025, featuring panels, keynote speakers, and networking opportunities. Topics included cross-border sexual offences, AI and internet-related sexual crimes, comparative prosecution approaches, victim protection in assault cases, transnational fraud, gender-based violence, and human trafficking.
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ISRCL 2024 International Conference: Modern Challenges to the Rule of Law
The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law was pleased to host the ISRCL 2024 International Conference in Vancouver, Canada from July 15–18, 2024. Below are highlights from the conference, including photos and featured speakers.
COVID-19 and Criminal Justice Systems: Challenges and Legacy
Criminal justice practitioners and scholars are invited to a 2-hour webinar, under the auspices of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL). The webinar will focus on the challenges presented by COVID-19 to criminal justice systems in Africa and Europe, as well as the legacy this might leave in the future. This webinar is a unique opportunity to observe and learn, across a wide range of jurisdictions, involving the full spectrum of participants in criminal justice systems, from the police, through courts to corrections.
Indigenous Courts: A Cross Jurisdictional Comparison
This 2-hour panel discussion, organized by the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL) and Courthouse Libraries BC, will compare and contrast the work of Indigenous Courts in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Justice Chamberlain of the Ontario Court of Justice will share a perspective on the Gladue Court in Toronto, Magistrate Previtera of the Magistrates Court of Queensland will share a perspective on the Murri Court, and Judge Davis of the District Court of New Zealand will share a perspective on Maori Court. These presentations will be followed by a discussion moderated by Prof. Cunliffe of Allard School of Law on the potential future of Indigenous Courts in the respective jurisdictions.
Past International Conferences
Photos above are from:
2024 International Conference, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2019 International Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2016 International Conference, Halifax, NS, Canada
2015 International Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland