Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences

The Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) was established in 1963 as a forum for academic researchers and those in the criminal justice professions to focus on the study of crime and criminal behavior. Consistent with its initial purpose, ACJS remains a strong influential body that shapes criminal justice education, research, and policy analyses by promoting professional and scholarly activities in the field of criminal justice.

Criminal justice education, research, and policy are the foci of the organization. ACJS supports the only journal dedicated to criminal justice education, has developed a set of minimum standards for criminal justice programs, and has established an academic peer review committee that conducts program reviews of criminal justice departments and programs. Debates have also centered on the merits of having criminal justice programs accredited.

Membership in ACJS is open to academicians and students in criminal justice, criminology, and any other related disciplines and to practitioners in the field of criminal justice, including both the public and the private sectors. To meet the needs of the membership, ACJS has formed sections in which members can focus more narrowly on policy and educational practices in a single area of interest within criminal justice. Sections include community colleges, corrections, critical criminology, information and public policy, international, juvenile justice, minorities and women, police, and security and crime prevention. Each section has its own executive board with an elected chair and other board members.

An annual meeting is held during which professionals, academicians, and students come together to develop and share knowledge about critical issues regarding crime and criminal and social justice. The annual meeting, traditionally held in the spring, is well attended, having attracted more than 1,700 participants some years.

The academy publishes two journals: Justice Quarterly and the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. Both are peer-reviewed and considered to be top-tier journals in the field. Members also received a newsletter, ACJS Today, an online, Web-based publication.

The national office is located in Greenbelt, Maryland. There is an association manager, an executive assistant, and a membership coordinator. The executive board consists of ACJS members elected to serve as president, first vice president, second vice president, secretary, treasurer, and regional and at-large board members. The organization is divided into five regions with representation from each region on the board and with two at-large board [Page 534]members representing the entire membership. The constitution and by-laws indicate which states are in each region.

The academy recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of criminal justice with several awards given annually. These include the Bruce Smith, Sr. Award, the Academy Fellow Award, the Academy Founder Award, the Outstanding Book Award, and the Anderson Outstanding Paper Award. The Bruce Smith, Sr. Award is awarded to someone who has made a substantial contribution to criminal justice. It recognizes leadership in criminal justice administration as well as active involvement in criminal justice research. The award recipient does not have to be an ACJS member. The Academy Fellow Award acknowledges significant and distinguished scholarly contributions to criminal justice education. The Founder's Award is bestowed on someone who has been an ACJS member for at least five consecutive years, who has demonstrated active involvement in criminal justice education and research for the previous five years, and who through service activities has made a substantial contribution to the academy.

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